Feature Branching
Feature Branching is a version control workflow where developers create separate branches in a repository for each new feature, bug fix, or task, isolating changes from the main codebase until they are ready for integration. This approach allows multiple developers to work concurrently without interfering with each other's work or the stable main branch. It is commonly used in Git-based systems to manage development cycles and facilitate code reviews.
Developers should use Feature Branching when working on collaborative projects to prevent conflicts, enable parallel development, and maintain a clean main branch (e.g., 'main' or 'master') that always contains deployable code. It is particularly useful in agile environments for implementing new features, hotfixes, or experiments, as it allows for isolated testing and review before merging, reducing the risk of breaking the production code.