repos
Rename a branch
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 authenticated user must have push access to the branch. If the branch is the default branch, the authenticated user must also have admin or owner permissions.
In order to rename the default branch, fine-grained access tokens also need the administration:write repository permission.
post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}/rename
Path parameters
ownerstring required
The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
repostring required
The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.
branchstring required
The name of the branch. Cannot contain wildcard characters. To use wildcard characters in branch names, use the GraphQL API.
Request body
Response
Response
Example response
{
"commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0NmRjYjA5YjViNTc4NzVmMzM0ZjYxYWViZWQ2OTVlMmU0MTkzZGI1ZQ==",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments",
"commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"author": {
"name": "\"Chris Wanstrath\"",
"email": "\"chris@ozmm.org\"",
"date": "\"2007-10-29T02:42:39.000-07:00\""
},
"committer": {
"name": "\"Chris Wanstrath\"",
"email": "\"chris@ozmm.org\"",
"date": "\"2007-10-29T02:42:39.000-07:00\""
},
"message": "Fix all the bugs",
"tree": {
"sha": "827efc6d56897b048c772eb4087f854f46256132",
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tree/827efc6d56897b048c772eb4087f854f46256132"
}
},
"author": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "41d064eb2195891e12d0413f63227ea7",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"starred_at": "\"2020-07-09T00:17:55Z\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
},
"committer": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "41d064eb2195891e12d0413f63227ea7",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"starred_at": "\"2020-07-09T00:17:55Z\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
},
"parents": [
{
"sha": "7638417db6d59f3c431d3e1f261cc637155684cd",
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7638417db6d59f3c431d3e1f261cc637155684cd",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/7638417db6d59f3c431d3e1f261cc637155684cd"
}
],
"files": [
{
"sha": "bbcd538c8e72b8c175046e27cc8f907076331401",
"filename": "file1.txt",
"status": "added",
"additions": 103,
"deletions": 21,
"changes": 124,
"blob_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/blob/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/file1.txt",
"raw_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/raw/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/file1.txt",
"contents_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/contents/file1.txt?ref=6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"patch": "@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ module Test @@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ module Test",
"previous_filename": "file.txt"
}
]
},
"protection": {
"enforce_admins": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/master/protection/enforce_admins",
"enabled": true
},
"required_pull_request_reviews": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/master/protection/dismissal_restrictions",
"dismissal_restrictions": {
"users": [
{
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "41d064eb2195891e12d0413f63227ea7",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"starred_at": "\"2020-07-09T00:17:55Z\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
}
],
"teams": [
{
"html_url": "https://github.com/orgs/rails/teams/core",
"access_source": "direct",
"organization_id": 37,
"enterprise_id": 42,
"parent": {
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VGVhbTE=",
"url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1",
"members_url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1/members{/member}",
"name": "Justice League",
"description": "A great team.",
"permission": "admin",
"privacy": "closed",
"notification_setting": "notifications_enabled",
"html_url": "https://github.com/orgs/rails/teams/core",
"repositories_url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1/repos",
"slug": "justice-league",
"ldap_dn": "uid=example,ou=users,dc=github,dc=com",
"organization_id": 37,
"enterprise_id": 42
}
}
],
"apps": [
{
"id": 37,
"slug": "probot-owners",
"node_id": "MDExOkludGVncmF0aW9uMQ==",
"client_id": "\"Iv1.25b5d1e65ffc4022\"",
"owner": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "41d064eb2195891e12d0413f63227ea7",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"starred_at": "\"2020-07-09T00:17:55Z\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
},
"name": "Probot Owners",
"description": "The description of the app.",
"external_url": "https://example.com",
"html_url": "https://github.com/apps/super-ci",
"created_at": "2017-07-08T16:18:44-04:00",
"updated_at": "2017-07-08T16:18:44-04:00",
"permissions": {
"issues": "read",
"deployments": "write"
},
"events": [
"label",
"deployment"
],
"installations_count": 5
}
],
"url": "\"https://api.github.com/repos/the-org/an-org-repo/branches/master/protection/dismissal_restrictions\"",
"users_url": "\"https://api.github.com/repos/the-org/an-org-repo/branches/master/protection/dismissal_restrictions/users\"",
"teams_url": "\"https://api.github.com/repos/the-org/an-org-repo/branches/master/protection/dismissal_restrictions/teams\""
},
"bypass_pull_request_allowances": {
"users": [
{
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "41d064eb2195891e12d0413f63227ea7",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"starred_at": "\"2020-07-09T00:17:55Z\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
}
],
"teams": [
{
"html_url": "https://github.com/orgs/rails/teams/core",
"access_source": "direct",
"organization_id": 37,
"enterprise_id": 42,
"parent": {
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VGVhbTE=",
"url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1",
"members_url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1/members{/member}",
"name": "Justice League",
"description": "A great team.",
"permission": "admin",
"privacy": "closed",
"notification_setting": "notifications_enabled",
"html_url": "https://github.com/orgs/rails/teams/core",
"repositories_url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1/repos",
"slug": "justice-league",
"ldap_dn": "uid=example,ou=users,dc=github,dc=com",
"organization_id": 37,
"enterprise_id": 42
}
}
],
"apps": [
{
"id": 37,
"slug": "probot-owners",
"node_id": "MDExOkludGVncmF0aW9uMQ==",
"client_id": "\"Iv1.25b5d1e65ffc4022\"",
"owner": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "41d064eb2195891e12d0413f63227ea7",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"starred_at": "\"2020-07-09T00:17:55Z\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
},
"name": "Probot Owners",
"description": "The description of the app.",
"external_url": "https://example.com",
"html_url": "https://github.com/apps/super-ci",
"created_at": "2017-07-08T16:18:44-04:00",
"updated_at": "2017-07-08T16:18:44-04:00",
"permissions": {
"issues": "read",
"deployments": "write"
},
"events": [
"label",
"deployment"
],
"installations_count": 5
}
]
},
"dismiss_stale_reviews": true,
"require_code_owner_reviews": true,
"required_approving_review_count": 2,
"require_last_push_approval": true
},
"restrictions": {
"teams": [
{
"html_url": "https://github.com/orgs/rails/teams/core",
"access_source": "direct",
"organization_id": 37,
"enterprise_id": 42,
"parent": {
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VGVhbTE=",
"url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1",
"members_url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1/members{/member}",
"name": "Justice League",
"description": "A great team.",
"permission": "admin",
"privacy": "closed",
"notification_setting": "notifications_enabled",
"html_url": "https://github.com/orgs/rails/teams/core",
"repositories_url": "https://api.github.com/organizations/1/team/1/repos",
"slug": "justice-league",
"ldap_dn": "uid=example,ou=users,dc=github,dc=com",
"organization_id": 37,
"enterprise_id": 42
}
}
],
"apps": [
{
"owner": {
"gravatar_id": "\"\"",
"html_url": "\"https://github.com/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b\"",
"followers_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/followers\"",
"following_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/following{/other_user}\"",
"gists_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/gists{/gist_id}\"",
"starred_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/starred{/owner}{/repo}\"",
"subscriptions_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/subscriptions\"",
"organizations_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/orgs\"",
"received_events_url": "\"https://api.github.com/users/testorg-ea8ec76d71c3af4b/received_events\"",
"type": "\"Organization\"",
"user_view_type": "public"
}
}
]
},
"name": "\"branch/with/protection\"",
"protection_url": "\"https://api.github.com/repos/owner-79e94e2d36b3fd06a32bb213/AAA_Public_Repo/branches/branch/with/protection/protection\"",
"required_signatures": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/master/protection/required_signatures",
"enabled": true
}
},
"pattern": "\"mas*\"",
"required_approving_review_count": 1
}