Switching changes the active branch and checks out its snapshot. The create option starts a new branch at the current point. Choose the exact requested name so later review and remote tracking refer to the right work. Do not commit a feature directly on main when the team expects a separate branch. The graph remains shared history until you add a commit, even though the active branch name has changed. After switch -c, an unchanged file still matches the common starting commit. The branch becomes independent when you commit a change. Status tells you which branch will receive that next snapshot.