Branches

Use the REST API to modify branches and their protection settings.

List branches

Parameters for "List branches"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`owner` string Required The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
`repo` string Required The name of the repository without the `.git` extension. The name is not case sensitive.
Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`protected` boolean Setting to `true` returns only protected branches. When set to `false`, only unprotected branches are returned. Omitting this parameter returns all branches.
`per_page` integer The number of results per page (max 100). Default: `30`
`page` integer Page number of the results to fetch. Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List branches"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK
`404`	Resource not found

Code samples for "List branches"

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/repos/OWNER/REPO/branches

Response

Status: 200

[
  {
    "name": "master",
    "commit": {
      "sha": "c5b97d5ae6c19d5c5df71a34c7fbeeda2479ccbc",
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/c5b97d5ae6c19d5c5df71a34c7fbeeda2479ccbc"
    },
    "protected": true,
    "protection": {
      "required_status_checks": {
        "enforcement_level": "non_admins",
        "contexts": [
          "ci-test",
          "linter"
        ]
      }
    },
    "protection_url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/hello-world/branches/master/protection"
  }
]

Get a branch

Works with GitHub Apps

Parameters for "Get a branch"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`owner` string Required The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
`repo` string Required The name of the repository without the `.git` extension. The name is not case sensitive.
`branch` string Required The name of the branch. Cannot contain wildcard characters. To use wildcard characters in branch names, use the GraphQL API.

HTTP response status codes for "Get a branch"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK
`301`	Moved permanently
`404`	Resource not found

Code samples for "Get a branch"

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/repos/OWNER/REPO/branches/BRANCH

Response

Status: 200

{
  "name": "main",
  "commit": {
    "sha": "7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
    "node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0MTI5NjI2OTo3ZmQxYTYwYjAxZjkxYjMxNGY1OTk1NWE0ZTRkNGU4MGQ4ZWRmMTFk",
    "commit": {
      "author": {
        "name": "The Octocat",
        "email": "octocat@nowhere.com",
        "date": "2012-03-06T23:06:50Z"
      },
      "committer": {
        "name": "The Octocat",
        "email": "octocat@nowhere.com",
        "date": "2012-03-06T23:06:50Z"
      },
      "message": "Merge pull request #6 from Spaceghost/patch-1\n\nNew line at end of file.",
      "tree": {
        "sha": "b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608",
        "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/trees/b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608"
      },
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
      "comment_count": 77,
      "verification": {
        "verified": false,
        "reason": "unsigned",
        "signature": null,
        "payload": null
      }
    },
    "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
    "comments_url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d/comments",
    "author": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 583231,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjU4MzIzMQ==",
      "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/583231?v=4",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": false
    },
    "committer": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 583231,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjU4MzIzMQ==",
      "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/583231?v=4",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": false
    },
    "parents": [
      {
        "sha": "553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e",
        "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e"
      },
      {
        "sha": "762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303",
        "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303"
      }
    ]
  },
  "_links": {
    "self": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/main",
    "html": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/tree/main"
  },
  "protected": false,
  "protection": {
    "enabled": false,
    "required_status_checks": {
      "enforcement_level": "off",
      "contexts": [],
      "checks": []
    }
  },
  "protection_url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/main/protection"
}

Rename a branch

Works with GitHub Apps

Renames a branch in a repository.

Note: Although the API responds immediately, the branch rename process might take some extra time to complete in the background. You won't be able to push to the old branch name while the rename process is in progress. For more information, see "Renaming a branch".

The permissions required to use this endpoint depends on whether you are renaming the default branch.

To rename a non-default branch:

Users must have push access.
GitHub Apps must have the contents:write repository permission.

To rename the default branch:

Users must have admin or owner permissions.
GitHub Apps must have the administration:write repository permission.

Parameters for "Rename a branch"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`owner` string Required The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
`repo` string Required The name of the repository without the `.git` extension. The name is not case sensitive.
`branch` string Required The name of the branch. Cannot contain wildcard characters. To use wildcard characters in branch names, use the GraphQL API.
Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`new_name` string Required The new name of the branch.

HTTP response status codes for "Rename a branch"

Status code	Description
`201`	Created
`403`	Forbidden
`404`	Resource not found
`422`	Validation failed, or the endpoint has been spammed.

Code samples for "Rename a branch"

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}/rename

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/repos/OWNER/REPO/branches/BRANCH/rename \
  -d '{"new_name":"my_renamed_branch"}'

Response

Status: 201

{
  "name": "master",
  "commit": {
    "sha": "7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
    "node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0N2ZkMWE2MGIwMWY5MWIzMTRmNTk5NTVhNGU0ZDRlODBkOGVkZjExZA==",
    "commit": {
      "author": {
        "name": "The Octocat",
        "date": "2012-03-06T15:06:50-08:00",
        "email": "octocat@nowhere.com"
      },
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
      "message": "Merge pull request #6 from Spaceghost/patch-1\n\nNew line at end of file.",
      "tree": {
        "sha": "b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608",
        "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/trees/b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608"
      },
      "committer": {
        "name": "The Octocat",
        "date": "2012-03-06T15:06:50-08:00",
        "email": "octocat@nowhere.com"
      },
      "verification": {
        "verified": false,
        "reason": "unsigned",
        "signature": null,
        "payload": null
      },
      "comment_count": 0
    },
    "author": {
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "avatar_url": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7ad39074b0584bc555d0417ae3e7d974?d=https://a248.e.akamai.net/assets.github.com%2Fimages%2Fgravatars%2Fgravatar-140.png",
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat",
      "id": 583231,
      "login": "octocat",
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": true
    },
    "parents": [
      {
        "sha": "553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e",
        "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e"
      },
      {
        "sha": "762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303",
        "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303"
      }
    ],
    "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d",
    "committer": {
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "avatar_url": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7ad39074b0584bc555d0417ae3e7d974?d=https://a248.e.akamai.net/assets.github.com%2Fimages%2Fgravatars%2Fgravatar-140.png",
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat",
      "id": 583231,
      "login": "octocat",
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": true
    },
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
    "comments_url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments"
  },
  "_links": {
    "html": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/tree/master",
    "self": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/master"
  },
  "protected": true,
  "protection": {
    "required_status_checks": {
      "enforcement_level": "non_admins",
      "contexts": [
        "ci-test",
        "linter"
      ]
    }
  },
  "protection_url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/hello-world/branches/master/protection"
}

Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository

Works with GitHub Apps

Sync a branch of a forked repository to keep it up-to-date with the upstream repository.

Parameters for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`owner` string Required The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
`repo` string Required The name of the repository without the `.git` extension. The name is not case sensitive.
Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`branch` string Required The name of the branch which should be updated to match upstream.

HTTP response status codes for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

Status code	Description
`200`	The branch has been successfully synced with the upstream repository
`409`	The branch could not be synced because of a merge conflict
`422`	The branch could not be synced for some other reason

Code samples for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/merge-upstream

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/repos/OWNER/REPO/merge-upstream \
  -d '{"branch":"main"}'

The branch has been successfully synced with the upstream repository

Status: 200

{
  "message": "Successfully fetched and fast-forwarded from upstream defunkt:main",
  "merge_type": "fast-forward",
  "base_branch": "defunkt:main"
}

Merge a branch

Works with GitHub Apps

Parameters for "Merge a branch"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`owner` string Required The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
`repo` string Required The name of the repository without the `.git` extension. The name is not case sensitive.
Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`base` string Required The name of the base branch that the head will be merged into.
`head` string Required The head to merge. This can be a branch name or a commit SHA1.
`commit_message` string Commit message to use for the merge commit. If omitted, a default message will be used.

HTTP response status codes for "Merge a branch"

Status code	Description
`201`	Successful Response (The resulting merge commit)
`204`	Response when already merged
`403`	Forbidden
`404`	Not Found when the base or head does not exist
`409`	Conflict when there is a merge conflict
`422`	Validation failed, or the endpoint has been spammed.

Code samples for "Merge a branch"

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/merges

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/repos/OWNER/REPO/merges \
  -d '{"base":"master","head":"cool_feature","commit_message":"Shipped cool_feature!"}'

Successful Response (The resulting merge commit)

Status: 201

{
  "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
  "sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
  "node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0NmRjYjA5YjViNTc4NzVmMzM0ZjYxYWViZWQ2OTVlMmU0MTkzZGI1ZQ==",
  "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
  "comments_url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments",
  "commit": {
    "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
    "author": {
      "name": "Monalisa Octocat",
      "email": "mona@github.com",
      "date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    },
    "committer": {
      "name": "Monalisa Octocat",
      "email": "mona@github.com",
      "date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    },
    "message": "Fix all the bugs",
    "tree": {
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tree/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
      "sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
    },
    "comment_count": 0,
    "verification": {
      "verified": false,
      "reason": "unsigned",
      "signature": null,
      "payload": null
    }
  },
  "author": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  },
  "committer": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://HOSTNAME/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "url": "https://HOSTNAME/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
      "sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
    }
  ],
  "stats": {
    "additions": 104,
    "deletions": 4,
    "total": 108
  },
  "files": [
    {
      "filename": "file1.txt",
      "additions": 10,
      "deletions": 2,
      "changes": 12,
      "status": "modified",
      "raw_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/raw/7ca483543807a51b6079e54ac4cc392bc29ae284/file1.txt",
      "blob_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/blob/7ca483543807a51b6079e54ac4cc392bc29ae284/file1.txt",
      "patch": "@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@\n....."
    }
  ]
}