Every developer has faced this: you are deep in feature development when an urgent bug needs fixing. You either stash your changes or clone the repo again. Git Worktree solves this elegantly. This powerful Git feature, available since Git 2.5 but still unknown to many in 2026, lets you check out multiple branches simultaneously in different directories.
What is Git Worktree?
Git Worktree allows multiple branches to be checked out in separate directories while sharing a single .git directory. Unlike cloning the repository twice, worktrees share the same Git history and objects, saving significant disk space.
Basic Usage
Adding a New Worktree
Use git worktree add path branch to check out any branch into a new directory. Add -b to create a new branch simultaneously.
Listing Worktrees
git worktree list shows all active worktrees with their paths, commit hashes, and branch names.
Removing a Worktree
Use git worktree remove path to clean up, or git worktree prune to remove references to already-deleted directories.
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Emergency Bug Fix During Development
The most common use case: create a hotfix worktree from main, fix the bug in a separate terminal, push the fix, then return to your feature work exactly where you left off.
Scenario 2: Code Review While Developing
Check out a colleague PR branch in a separate worktree to review and run it, while your own development continues uninterrupted.
Scenario 3: Multiple Version Maintenance
For SaaS products supporting multiple versions simultaneously, create separate worktrees for each stable version.
Tips and Gotchas
The same branch cannot be checked out in two worktrees simultaneously. Watch for port conflicts when running dev servers from multiple worktrees. Each worktree requires its own node_modules installation.
Git Worktree with AI Coding Agents in 2026
AI coding agents like Claude Code and GitHub Copilot Agent are increasingly using Git Worktree to work on multiple features in parallel, creating independent worktrees for isolated, concurrent development.
VS Code Integration
Open each worktree in a separate VS Code window, or use a multi-root workspace file to manage all worktrees in one window with clear visual separation.
Conclusion
Git Worktree remains a hidden gem that most developers have not discovered in 2026. Once you make it part of your workflow, the stash-and-switch pattern feels primitive by comparison. Try git worktree add today and experience a significant upgrade to your development workflow.
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