# av-stack-branch(1) in CLI

### NAME

av-branch - Create or rename a branch in the stack

### SYNOPSIS

`av branch [-m | --rename] [--force] [--parent <parent_branch>] <branch-name> [<parent_branch>]`

### DESCRIPTION

Create a new branch that is stacked on the current branch by default

If the --rename/-m flag is given, the current branch is renamed to the name instead of creating a new branch. Branches should only be renamed with this command (not with `git branch -m ...`) because av needs to update internal tracking metadata that defines the order of branches within a stack. If you renamed a branch with `git branch -m`, you can retroactively update the internal metadata with `av branch --rename <old-branch-name>:<new-branch-name>`.

### OPTIONS

`--parent <parent_branch>` : Instead of creating a new branch from current branch, create it from specified `<parent_branch>`

`-m, --rename` : Rename the current branch to the provided `<branch_name>` instead of creating a new one, only if a pull request does not exist.

`--force` : Force rename the branch, even if a pull request exists.

`--split` : Splits the last commit into a new branch, if no branch name is given create one based on commit message.


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