Git Clone and Branch Switching Explained

In the previous blog, we learned about cloning specific branches and shallow clones.
Now let’s go a step further and see what happens after a normal git clone, how Git sets up the default branch, and how you can switch or rename branches locally.

Default Branch After git clone

When you run a normal clone:

git clone <repo-url>
cd <repo-folder>

By default:

  • Git checks out the default branch of the repository (often main or master).
  • All remote branches are downloaded as remote tracking branches.

Check available branches:

git branch

👉 Output:

* main

Only the default branch is checked out locally.

Now check all branches:

git branch -a

👉 Output:

* main
  remotes/origin/main
  remotes/origin/test
  remotes/origin/audiocall

✅ Git cloned all remote branch pointers, but only the default branch is active locally.

Checking Out Another Branch

Suppose you want to switch to the test branch:

git switch test

👉 What happens?

  • Git creates a local branch test.
  • It automatically sets the upstream branch to origin/test.

Verify with:

git branch -vv

👉 Output:

* test   a1b2c3d [origin/test] Commit message here
  main   f9e8d7c [origin/main] Commit message here

✅ The local test branch now tracks origin/test.

Creating a Local Branch with a Different Name

Now here’s something interesting: Suppose the remote repository has a branch called audiocall, but you want your local branch to be called feature1.

You can do this:

git switch -c feature1 origin/audiocall

👉 This creates:

  • A local branch feature1.
  • That tracks the remote branch origin/audiocall.

Check with:

git branch -vv

👉 Output:

* feature1   d4e5f6g [origin/audiocall] Commit message here
  main       f9e8d7c [origin/main] Commit message here
  test       a1b2c3d [origin/test] Commit message here

✅ Local name can be different, while still pointing to the same remote branch.

Visual Representation



    

  • main maps to origin/main
    • 

  • test maps to origin/test
    • 

  • feature1 maps to origin/audiocall
    • 





Summary


    

  • After cloning, Git checks out the default branch locally.
    • 

  • All other branches exist as remote tracking branches.
    • 

  • Use git switch <branch> to move to another remote branch.
    • 

  • Use git switch -c <new-local-name> origin/<remote-branch> to give a remote branch a different local name.
    • 





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