# phpman > man > GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF(1)

> **TLDR:** Read, change, or delete files that store references.
>
- Store a reference by a name:
  `git symbolic-ref refs/{{name}} {{ref}}`
- Store a reference by name, including a message with a reason for the update:
  `git symbolic-ref -m "{{message}}" refs/{{name}} refs/heads/{{branch_name}}`
- Read a reference by name:
  `git symbolic-ref refs/{{name}}`
- Delete a reference by name:
  `git symbolic-ref {{-d|--delete}} refs/{{name}}`
- For scripting, hide errors with `--quiet` and use `--short` to simplify ("refs/heads/X" prints as "X"):
  `git symbolic-ref {{-q|--quiet}} --short refs/{{name}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

[GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF/1/markdown)                          Git Manual                          [GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF/1/markdown)



## NAME
       git-symbolic-ref - Read, modify and delete symbolic refs

## SYNOPSIS
       _git_ _symbolic-ref_ [-m <reason>] <name> <ref>
       _git_ _symbolic-ref_ [-q] [--short] <name>
       _git_ _symbolic-ref_ --delete [-q] <name>


## DESCRIPTION
       Given one argument, reads which branch head the given symbolic ref refers to and outputs its
       path, relative to the **.git/** directory. Typically you would give **HEAD** as the <name> argument
       to see which branch your working tree is on.

       Given two arguments, creates or updates a symbolic ref <name> to point at the given branch
       <ref>.

       Given **--delete** and an additional argument, deletes the given symbolic ref.

       A symbolic ref is a regular file that stores a string that begins with **ref:** **refs/**. For
       example, your **.git/HEAD** is a regular file whose contents is **ref:** **refs/heads/master**.

## OPTIONS
### -d, --delete
           Delete the symbolic ref <name>.

### -q, --quiet
           Do not issue an error message if the <name> is not a symbolic ref but a detached HEAD;
           instead exit with non-zero status silently.

### --short
           When showing the value of <name> as a symbolic ref, try to shorten the value, e.g. from
           **refs/heads/master** to **master**.

### -m
           Update the reflog for <name> with <reason>. This is valid only when creating or updating
           a symbolic ref.

## NOTES
       In the past, **.git/HEAD** was a symbolic link pointing at **refs/heads/master**. When we wanted to
       switch to another branch, we did **ln** **-sf** **refs/heads/newbranch** **.git/HEAD**, and when we wanted to
       find out which branch we are on, we did **readlink** **.git/HEAD**. But symbolic links are not
       entirely portable, so they are now deprecated and symbolic refs (as described above) are used
       by default.

       _git_ _symbolic-ref_ will exit with status 0 if the contents of the symbolic ref were printed
       correctly, with status 1 if the requested name is not a symbolic ref, or 128 if another error
       occurs.

## GIT
       Part of the [**git**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/git/1/markdown) suite



Git 2.34.1                                   02/26/2026                          [GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GIT-SYMBOLIC-REF/1/markdown)