+
When this parameter names a non-branch (but still a valid commit object),
your HEAD becomes 'detached'.
++
+As a special case, the "`@\{-N\}`" syntax for the N-th last branch
+checks out the branch (instead of detaching). You may also specify
+"`-`" which is synonymous with "`@\{-1\}`".
Detached HEAD
arg = argv[0];
has_dash_dash = (argc > 1) && !strcmp(argv[1], "--");
+ if (!strcmp(arg, "-"))
+ arg = "@{-1}";
+
if (get_sha1(arg, rev)) {
if (has_dash_dash) /* case (1) */
die("invalid reference: %s", arg);
--- /dev/null
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='checkout can switch to last branch'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+test_expect_success 'setup' '
+ echo hello >world &&
+ git add world &&
+ git commit -m initial &&
+ git branch other &&
+ echo "hello again" >>world &&
+ git add world &&
+ git commit -m second
+'
+
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" does not work initially' '
+ test_must_fail git checkout -
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'first branch switch' '
+ git checkout other
+'
+
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" switches back' '
+ git checkout - &&
+ test "z$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "zrefs/heads/master"
+'
+
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" switches forth' '
+ git checkout - &&
+ test "z$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "zrefs/heads/other"
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'detach HEAD' '
+ git checkout $(git rev-parse HEAD)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" attaches again' '
+ git checkout - &&
+ test "z$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "zrefs/heads/other"
+'
+
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" detaches again' '
+ git checkout - &&
+ test "z$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "z$(git rev-parse other)" &&
+ test_must_fail git symbolic-ref HEAD
+'
+
+test_done