Can you explain how the 'git rebase' command works and how it is used when working with branches?

The git rebase command is used to transfer or 'rewrite' a series of commits onto a new base. The main idea is to take changes from one branch and apply them on top of another branch, creating a more linear history.

For example, if you have a branch called feature, which was created from master, and new commits have appeared in master, then using git rebase master on the feature branch will 'replay' your commits as if they were created on top of the current master. This helps avoid unnecessary merge commits and makes the history cleaner.

Example usage:

# Switch to the feature branch
git checkout feature

# Rebase the feature branch commits onto the current master
git rebase master

Important: when using rebase, be cautious with public branches, as rewriting history can cause conflicts for other developers.