How to fix fatal: invalid reference: branch-name in Git

# List all local branches
git branch

# List all branches including remote-tracking branches
git branch -a

# List branches with more details
git branch -vv

# Fetch all branches from all remotes
git fetch --all

# Fetch from a specific remote
git fetch origin

# Fetch and prune deleted remote branches
git fetch --prune

git branch -a | grep branch-name

# Checkout and track the remote branch
git checkout branch-name

# Or explicitly create a local branch tracking the remote
git checkout -b branch-name origin/branch-name

# These are different branches in Git:
git checkout feature-branch    # lowercase
git checkout Feature-Branch    # mixed case
git checkout FEATURE-BRANCH    # uppercase

# Case-insensitive search for branches
git branch -a | grep -i "branch-name"

# Show all references containing the name
git show-ref | grep -i "branch-name"

# Branch names with brackets need quoting (especially in zsh)
git checkout "feature/[JIRA-123]"

# Branch names with spaces (not recommended but possible)
git checkout "feature with spaces"

# Use single quotes to prevent variable expansion
git checkout 'feature/$variable'

# Check if the reference exists
git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/branch-name && echo "Branch exists" || echo "Branch not found"

# Check for remote branches
git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/branch-name && echo "Remote branch exists" || echo "Not found"

# List all references to find the correct name
git show-ref

# Create a new branch at current HEAD
git checkout -b branch-name

# Create a new branch from a specific commit
git checkout -b branch-name commit-hash

# Create a branch tracking a remote branch
git checkout -b branch-name origin/branch-name

# Prune stale remote-tracking branches
git fetch --prune

# Or prune a specific remote
git remote prune origin

# Enable auto-pruning for future fetches
git config --global fetch.prune true

# Delete the local branch
git branch -d branch-name

# Force delete if it has unmerged changes
git branch -D branch-name

# Check repository for issues
git fsck

# Remove and re-add the remote
git remote remove origin
git remote add origin [email protected]:user/repo.git
git fetch origin

# Refresh all remote-tracking branches
git remote update origin --prune

# Move current repo and clone fresh
mv myrepo myrepo.backup
git clone [email protected]:user/repo.git
cd myrepo

# Copy any local uncommitted changes from backup if needed