What is the difference between development approaches using the main branch and feature branches?

The approach with a main branch (e.g., main or master) and feature branches is used to organize the development process and manage code changes.

• Main branch — contains stable, release-ready code. Only verified and tested changes are merged into it.

• Feature branches — created for developing new features or fixing bugs. Developers work in their own branch without affecting the main.

Advantages of this approach:

• Isolation of new feature development, reducing the risk of breaking stable code.
• Convenience for team collaboration and parallel development.
• Ability to conduct code reviews and testing before merging.

After completing work, the feature branch is merged into the main via a pull request or merge, usually after passing tests.

Example:

git checkout -b feature/new-login
# work on the new feature
# commits

git push origin feature/new-login
# create a pull request to merge into main