To merge a branch into the current branch in Git, you can follow these steps:
1. Make Sure You're on the Current Branch: First, you need to ensure you're on the branch that you want to merge into. You can check your current branch by running:
git branch
The current branch will be highlighted with an asterisk (*). If you're not on the desired branch, switch to it using:
git checkout <current-branch-name>
2. Fetch the Latest Changes (Optional): If you're working with a remote repository, it's a good idea to fetch the latest changes to ensure everything is up to date:
git fetch origin
3. Merge the Desired Branch: Now, use the merge command to combine the specified branch into your current branch. Replace <branch-to-merge> with the name of the branch you want to merge:
git merge <branch-to-merge>
4. Resolve Conflicts (if any): If there are any merge conflicts, Git will inform you. You need to resolve those conflicts manually. Once conflicts are resolved, make sure to add the resolved files:
git add <resolved-file>
Then, complete the merge by committing the changes:
git commit
5. Review the Merge: It's always a good practice to review the merge to ensure everything is as expected:
git log
This series of commands will successfully merge the specified branch into your current branch. If you have any specific scenarios or additional questions about the merging process, feel free to ask!