We use the **`git checkout` command** to navigate between branches in a git repository. This command instructs Git on the branch where you want to apply the changes. We can also use this to restore the working tree files.
>Note: A branch is a pointer to a commit.

# Syntax
The syntax of the `git checkout` command is as follows:
```git
git checkout [options] branch
```
 `branch`: The branch name to which Git will be switched.



# Options
The options we can use with `git checkout` command include:
* `-q`: Quietly switch the branch without showing any output.
* `--progress`: Report the progress status.
* `-B`: Create a new branch if the branch does not exist.
* `-b`: Create a new branch.
* `-f`: Force the branch switch even if even if the working directory differs from the `HEAD`.
* `--track`: Set up the upstream configuration.
* `--no-track`: Do not set up the upstream configuration.
* `--orphan`: Create an orphan branch and switch to it. The first commit on this branch will be the root of a new history and will have no parent.

# `git clone` vs `git checkout`
The `git clone` command is used to get the code from the remote repository to the local repository. On the other hand, the `git checkout` command is used to switch between code already on the local repository.

# Code
## Example 1
```git
$＞ git branch 
branch1
branch2
branch3 
branch4
$＞ git checkout branch2
```
We use the `git branch` command to display a list of available branches. We then use the `git checkout` branch to switch to the branch named `branch2`.

## Example 2
```git
$＞ git checkout -b branch1
``` 
A branch `branch1` is created, and `git` switches to it.


What is the git checkout command?

Navigate branches in Git with `git checkout`, switch commits, restore working files; syntax: `git checkout [options] branch`.

What is the git checkout command?

Syntax

Options

git clone vs git checkout

Code

Example 1

Example 2

`git clone` vs `git checkout`