Get the current Git branch name

Use git branch --show-current on Git 2.22 or later. It prints the branch name without the formatting added by git branch. In a script that must fail when no branch is checked out, use git symbolic-ref --quiet --short HEAD.

Compare the commands

git branch --show-current
# main

git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD
# main

git symbolic-ref --short HEAD
# main

rev-parse is a widely available alternative on older Git versions, but it needs a resolvable HEAD; a newly initialized repository with no commit is a special case. symbolic-ref HEAD without --short prints the full reference, such as refs/heads/main.

Handle detached HEAD explicitly

Checking out a tag or commit can detach HEAD from a branch. In that state:

• git branch --show-current prints nothing and normally succeeds.
• git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD prints HEAD.
• git symbolic-ref --quiet --short HEAD returns a nonzero status.

For a local script that should operate only on a named branch:

#!/bin/sh
branch=$(git symbolic-ref --quiet --short HEAD) || {
  echo "A checked-out branch is required." >&2
  exit 1
}
if [ "$branch" = main ]; then
  echo "Choose a feature branch before running this operation." >&2
  exit 1
fi

This is useful for local workflow checks and shell prompts. A pre-push hook that protects a remote branch must also inspect the destination refs supplied to the hook: the currently checked-out branch does not determine every ref a push can update.

FAQ

Why not parse git branch with grep?

Its normal output is intended for people and can include markers, colors, and worktree information. A dedicated output option avoids depending on that presentation.

Why is there no branch name in CI?

Many runners check out a commit directly. Use the CI platform's event-aware metadata when you need the triggering ref. For example, GitHub Actions exposes GITHUB_REF_NAME, and GitLab exposes CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME; these may represent tags or special event refs rather than an ordinary source branch. For pull requests, check the platform's source-branch variable and the event type.

Can several branches contain the checked-out commit?

Yes. Finding branches that contain a commit is a different question from finding the branch currently attached to HEAD.

See git-branch, git-symbolic-ref, GitHub Actions variables, and GitLab predefined variables.