List branches ordered by their latest commit
Build a paste-ready command, then review its compatibility and effects before running it.
git branch --sort=-committerdateread-onlyno known side effects Compatibility
Linux + macOS + WindowsVerified for Linux, macOS, Windows using bash, zsh, powershell syntax.
Operational knowledgereview due 2027-01-19
Requirementsgitgit must be installed and available on PATH.
Version supportgit Current supported releasesVerified for linux, macos, windows using bash, zsh, powershell syntax; consult compatibility notes for platform-specific differences.
Expected signals* masterRepresentative successful output; values vary with the selected target and system state.
Known errorsgit: command not foundgit is missing or is not available on PATH.
Verifygit branch --sort=-committerdateThe output matches the expected target and exits without an error.Rollback noteNot required: this command is read-only and does not change system state.
Command breakdown
01git branchBranch listLists local branches.
02--sort=-committerdateNewest activity firstSorts by committer date; the leading minus reverses the order.
Example input
git branch --sort=-committerdate
Example output
* master
feature/command-details
fix/mobile-layout
chore/update-catalog
Illustrative output — exact values vary by system and data.
Official sources