Git: Delete a Local Branch
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Once a branch's work is merged, you delete it with git branch -d <branch>. Git refuses if the branch has commits that aren't merged anywhere - a safety check. To delete it anyway, use the capital -D. Deleting a local branch never touches the copy on the remote; that's a separate command.
Try these in the terminal playground - a real shell in your browser, nothing to install.
Syntax
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
git branch -d feature | Delete feature (only if it's merged) |
git branch -D feature | Force-delete feature even if unmerged |
git branch -d branch1 branch2 | Delete several branches at once |
Common cases
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| Delete a merged branch | git branch -d old-feature |
| Force-delete an unmerged branch | git branch -D scratch |
| Delete the branch you're on | git switch main then git branch -d feature |
| See which branches are merged | git branch --merged |
Worked example
Finish a feature, merge it, and clean up the local branch.
| Step | Command | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | git switch main | Move off the branch you want to delete |
| 2 | git merge feature | Bring the feature's commits into main |
| 3 | git branch -d feature | Delete the now-merged branch |
Git delete local branch FAQ
What's the difference between git branch -d and -D?
-d is the safe delete: Git only removes the branch if its commits are already merged into another branch, so you can't accidentally lose work. -D is the force delete (shorthand for --delete --force): it removes the branch no matter what, even if it has unmerged commits. Use -d by default and reach for -D only when you're sure you want to throw the branch's commits away.How do I delete the branch I'm currently on?
You can't delete the branch you have checked out. Switch to another branch first with
git switch main (or git checkout main), then run git branch -d feature. If you try to delete the current branch, Git errors with "Cannot delete branch ... checked out".Does deleting a local branch delete it on GitHub?
No.
git branch -d only removes the branch from your local repository. The branch on the remote (GitHub, GitLab, etc.) stays until you delete it separately with git push origin --delete feature.Can I recover a branch I deleted?
Usually yes, if it was recent. Run
git reflog to find the commit the branch pointed at, then recreate it with git branch feature <commit-hash>. The commits aren't garbage-collected immediately, so a branch deleted by mistake can normally be restored.Can I practice this online?
Yes. Open the terminal playground to run these commands in a real shell in your browser - nothing to install. When you want structure, Coddy's free interactive Git course walks you from your first commit through branching and merging step by step.
Related resources
More Git commands
