/branch

Creates a branch of the current conversation from this point, to try a different direction without losing the history so far.

Automatically switches to the new branch; the original is preserved and reachable via /resume. For a side task on a background subagent instead of switching yourself: /fork.

✅ WHEN TO USE IT?

Try an alternative solution path from the current point

/branch

Explore a fundamentally different direction and keep working there yourself

/branch try server-side instead of client-side rendering

⛔ WHEN NOT TO?

Side task should run in the background in parallel

branch vs fork: branch switches you into the new branch yourself - for a side task with inherited context running in the background, /fork is meant for that.

Better: /fork

SOURCES

Claude Code Doku (offiziell) ↗ code.claude.com