branches

A branch is a secondary axis or limb that grows from the trunk or another branch of a plant. Branches support leaves, flowers, and fruit and provide access to light and resources distributed by the plant's vascular system. Branching patterns range from simple to highly complex and are determined by genetics and environment. Patterns such as alternate, opposite, or whorled arrangements affect canopy form and stability. Growth occurs at meristems, with cambial activity contributing to secondary growth in many woody plants.

In computing, a branch is an independent line of development within a software project managed by version control systems. Branches allow experimenting, developing features, or fixing bugs without altering the main codebase. Typical workflow includes creating a branch, making changes, testing, and merging back after review. Common strategies include feature branches, release branches, and hotfix branches; branching supports parallel work and controlled integration.

In government and law, branches refer to separate centers of sovereign power, commonly the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This separation aims to prevent the concentration of power by distributing responsibilities and providing checks and balances, with mechanisms to resolve disputes and ensure accountability.

Other uses include branching structures in mathematics and computer science, such as decision branches in trees, control flow branches in algorithms, and branch points where paths diverge.