Manage every branch and tag from the same view as your history

Branches and tags in Git Navigator are inline labels on the graph, not entries hidden in a menu. Create them anywhere, favorite the ones you care about, fast-forward or delete them from a hover menu, and see release tags land on the commits that actually shipped.

Git Navigator showing a commit graph with several feature branches, a long-running release branch, and multiple release tags
A real release-style repository in Git Navigator: a long-running release branch, multiple feature branches, and v0.9 through v2.0-rc1 tags drawn on the commits they point to.

What you can do from the graph

Inline ref labels

Branches and tags are drawn on the commits they point at, so the answer to "where is v1.1 now?" is the graph, not a separate ref view.

Create branches and tags anywhere

Right-click any commit to start a new branch or cut a tag from that point. No need to checkout first or remember the right ref name.

Favorites stay pinned

Star the branches you live in. Favorites stay visible in the graph and the refs overlay even when other branches scroll away.

Fast-forward and clean up safely

Fast-forward a branch to its upstream, delete merged branches, or force-delete an unmerged one from the hover menu — with confirmations before anything destructive runs.

Working with refs

  1. Find the commit. Spot the commit you want to branch from or tag in the graph. Existing labels make it obvious which branch or release line you are working with.
  2. Create the ref. Open the commit menu and choose Create branch or Create tag. Give it a name and Git Navigator creates the ref on that exact commit.
  3. Favorite what you use. Star the branches you keep coming back to. Favorites stay in view and at the top of the refs overlay, so the graph stays useful even in a busy repository.
  4. Clean up when you are done. Hover a branch label for fast-forward, delete, and force-delete actions. Tags get a similar hover menu so removing an obsolete release is one click, not a CLI dive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I create a branch from any commit, not just the tip?

Yes. Open the commit menu in the graph and choose Create branch. Git Navigator creates the new branch on that commit, whether it is the tip of a branch or deep in history.

What does favoriting a branch do?

Favorited branches stay visible in the graph and at the top of the refs overlay, so the branches you actually work in do not get pushed off-screen when the repository gets busy.

How do I delete a branch I no longer need?

Hover the branch label in the graph or open the refs overlay and choose Delete. Git Navigator confirms before deleting and offers force-delete if the branch is not fully merged.

Does Git Navigator support tagging release commits?

Yes. Create lightweight or annotated tags from the commit menu. The tag is drawn inline on the commit it points to, and shows up wherever the graph references that commit.