/compat /git/git-feature-versions

Git features by version: switch, sparse-checkout, reftable

updated 2026-10-20

tool: Git
versions: Git 2.23 – 2.56
os: linux, macos, windows

Many "unknown command" or "unknown option" errors from Git come from an old Git version. This table lists the release that introduced each feature, taken from the official release notes; run git --version to compare.

Feature table

Feature	Since	Notes
git switch, git restore	2.23	split branch and file operations out of git checkout
git sparse-checkout	2.25	dedicated command for sparse checkouts
SHA-256 repositories	2.29	experimental at introduction: git init --object-format=sha256
git maintenance	2.29	scheduled repository housekeeping
git push --force-if-includes	2.30	pairs with --force-with-lease
merge.conflictStyle zdiff3	2.35	"zealous diff3" conflict markers
scalar	2.38	large-repository helper merged into core Git
git replay	2.44	replay commits without touching the working tree
reftable reference backend	2.45	git init --ref-format=reftable
remote.<name>.followRemoteHEAD	2.48	git fetch keeps origin/HEAD in sync
git repo, git last-modified	2.52	repository info and per-path last change
git history (experimental)	2.54	history rewriting command
git add --resolved, git branch --delete-merged	2.56	see the 2.56 release notes

Check before you use a feature

bash

git --version
git switch -h >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "git switch: available"
git help -a | grep -qw history && echo "git history: available" || echo "git history: not in this version"

Output

git version 2.55.0.windows.5
git history: available

Sources

changes · gitGit 2.55 to 2.56: what changedGit 2.56 makes -h and --help exit with 0 instead of 129, adds git add --resolved, git branch --delete-merged and git refs subcommands, and flags push typos.flags · gitgit push --force-with-lease: a safer force push--force-with-lease overwrites the remote branch only if it still points where your remote-tracking ref says, so commits pushed since your fetch are never lost.cheat sheets · gitGit cheat sheet: everyday commandsGit cheat sheet: setup, stage and commit, branches with switch, history, undo with restore, reset and revert, stash, remotes, tags and the reflog on one page.

Feature table

Check before you use a feature

Sources

Related pages