A branch is a movable name for a line of development
A Git branch points to a commit. Creating a branch does not copy the entire project directory; it creates a new reference that can move forward as you make commits.
Why branches are useful
Branches isolate work such as a feature, bug fix or experiment from the stable branch. Developers can work independently and integrate changes after they are ready for review.
Think in commits, not folders
A branch is not a second physical project directory. It is a different path through the repository's commit graph. Switching branches changes the working tree to match the selected commit and branch state.