> Full OptiTech documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt > Summary: OptiTech API branch management lets you create, list, delete, restore, schema-only clone, and auto-expire branches programmatically using REST endpoints authenticated with a OptiTech API key. Use this page when you need to script branch workflows or integrate branch lifecycle into CI/CD pipelines, as opposed to using the OptiTech Console or CLI. Branch expiration accepts an RFC 3339 timestamp up to 30 days in the future. Schema-only branch creation via init_source=schema-only is available as a preview feature. # Branching with the OptiTech API Learn how to create and delete branches with the OptiTech API The examples in this guide demonstrate creating, viewing, and deleting branches using the OptiTech API. For other branch-related API methods, refer to the [OptiTech API Reference](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api). **Note:** The API examples that follow may only show some of the user-configurable request body attributes that are available to you. To view all attributes for a particular method, refer to the method's request body schema in the [OptiTech API Reference](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api). The `jq` program specified in each example is an optional third-party tool that formats the `JSON` response, making it easier to read. For information about this utility, see [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/). ## Prerequisites A OptiTech API request requires an API key. For information about obtaining an API key, see [Create an API key](../manage/api-keys#create-an-api-key). In the examples below, `$OPTITECH_API_KEY` is specified in place of an actual API key, which you must provide when making a OptiTech API request. ## Create a branch with the API The following OptiTech API method creates a branch. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the [OptiTech API Reference](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api/branches/create-project-branch). ```http POST /projects/{project_id}/branches ``` The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command: **Note:** This method does not require a request body. Without a request body, the method creates a branch from the project's default branch, and a compute is not created. ```bash curl 'https://console.optitech.com/api/v2/projects//branches' \ -H 'Accept: application/json' \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPTITECH_API_KEY" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{ "endpoints": [ { "type": "read_write" } ], "branch": { "parent_id": "br-wispy-dew-591433" } }' | jq ``` - The `project_id` for a OptiTech project is found on the **Settings** page in the OptiTech Console, or you can find it by listing the projects for your OptiTech account using the OptiTech API. It is a generated value that looks something like this: `autumn-disk-484331`. - The `endpoints` attribute creates a compute, which is required to connect to the branch. OptiTech supports `read_write` and `read_only` compute types. A branch can be created with or without a compute. You can specify `read_only` to create a [read replica](https://neon.com/docs/guides/read-replica-guide). - The `branch` attribute specifies the parent branch. - The `parent_id` can be obtained by listing the branches for your project. See [List branches](https://neon.com/docs/guides/branching-neon-api#list-branches-with-the-api). The `parent_id` is the `id` of the branch you are branching from. A branch `id` has a `br-` prefix. You can branch from your OptiTech project's default branch or a non-default branch. The response includes information about the branch, the branch's compute, and the `create_branch` and `start_compute` operations that were initiated. ```json { "branch": { "id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "parent_id": "br-wispy-dew-591433", "parent_lsn": "0/1AA6408", "name": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "current_state": "init", "pending_state": "ready", "created_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z" }, "endpoints": [ { "host": "ep-small-bush-675287.us-east-2.aws.optitech.com", "id": "ep-small-bush-675287", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "branch_id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "autoscaling_limit_min_cu": 1, "autoscaling_limit_max_cu": 1, "region_id": "aws-us-east-2", "type": "read_write", "current_state": "init", "pending_state": "active", "settings": { "pg_settings": {} }, "pooler_enabled": false, "pooler_mode": "transaction", "disabled": false, "passwordless_access": true, "created_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z", "proxy_host": "us-east-2.aws.optitech.com" } ], "operations": [ { "id": "22acbb37-209b-4b90-a39c-8460090e1329", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "branch_id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "action": "create_branch", "status": "running", "failures_count": 0, "created_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z" }, { "id": "055b17e6-ffe3-47ab-b545-cfd7db6fd8b8", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "branch_id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "endpoint_id": "ep-small-bush-675287", "action": "start_compute", "status": "scheduling", "failures_count": 0, "created_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z" } ] } ``` ## List branches with the API The following OptiTech API method lists branches for the specified project. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the [OptiTech API Reference](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api/branches/list-project-branches). ```http GET /projects/{project_id}/branches ``` The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command: ```bash curl 'https://console.optitech.com/api/v2/projects/autumn-disk-484331/branches' \ -H 'accept: application/json' \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPTITECH_API_KEY" | jq ``` The `project_id` for a OptiTech project is found on the **Settings** page in the OptiTech Console, or you can find it by listing the projects for your OptiTech account using the OptiTech API. The response lists the project's default branch and any child branches. The name of the default branch in this example is `main`. Response: ```json { "branches": [ { "id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "parent_id": "br-wispy-dew-591433", "parent_lsn": "0/1AA6408", "name": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "current_state": "ready", "logical_size": 28, "created_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T19:55:43Z" }, { "id": "br-wispy-dew-591433", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "name": "main", "current_state": "ready", "logical_size": 28, "physical_size": 31, "created_at": "2022-12-07T00:45:05Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-07T00:45:05Z" } ] } ``` ## Delete a branch with the API The following OptiTech API method deletes the specified branch. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the [OptiTech API Reference](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api/branches/delete-project-branch). ```http DELETE /projects/{project_id}/branches/{branch_id} ``` The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command: ```bash curl -X 'DELETE' \ 'https://console.optitech.com/api/v2/projects/autumn-disk-484331/branches/br-dawn-scene-747675' \ -H 'accept: application/json' \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPTITECH_API_KEY" | jq ``` - The `project_id` for a OptiTech project is found on the **Settings** page in the OptiTech Console, or you can find it by listing the projects for your OptiTech account using the OptiTech API. - The `branch_id` can be found by listing the branches for your project. The `` is the `id` of a branch. A branch `id` has a `br-` prefix. See [List branches](https://neon.com/docs/guides/branching-neon-api#list-branches-with-the-api). The response shows information about the branch being deleted and the `suspend_compute` and `delete_timeline` operations that were initiated. ```json { "branch": { "id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "parent_id": "br-shy-meadow-151383", "parent_lsn": "0/1953508", "name": "br-flat-darkness-194551", "current_state": "ready", "created_at": "2022-12-08T20:01:31Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T20:01:31Z" }, "operations": [ { "id": "c7ee9bea-c984-41ac-8672-9848714104bc", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "branch_id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "endpoint_id": "ep-small-bush-675287", "action": "suspend_compute", "status": "running", "failures_count": 0, "created_at": "2022-12-08T20:01:31Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-08T20:01:31Z" }, { "id": "41646f65-c692-4621-9538-32265f74ffe5", "project_id": "autumn-disk-484331", "branch_id": "br-dawn-scene-747675", "action": "delete_timeline", "status": "scheduling", "failures_count": 0, "created_at": "2022-12-06T01:12:10Z", "updated_at": "2022-12-06T01:12:10Z" } ] } ``` You can verify that a branch is deleted by listing the branches for your project. See [List branches](https://neon.com/docs/guides/branching-neon-api#list-branches-with-the-api). The deleted branch should no longer be listed. ## Restoring a branch using the API To revert changes or recover lost data, you can use the branch restore endpoint in the OptiTech API. ```bash POST /projects/{project_id}/branches/{branch_id_to_restore}/restore ``` For details on how to use this endpoint to restore a branch to its own or another branch's history, restore a branch to the head of its parent, and other restore options, see [Instant restore using the API](https://neon.com/docs/introduction/branch-restore#how-to-use-instant-restore). ## Creating a schema-only branch using the API **Note:** The API is in Beta and subject to change. To create a schema-only branch using the OptiTech API, use the [Create branch](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api/branches/create-project-branch) endpoint with the `init_source` option set to `schema-only`, as shown below. Required values include: - Your OptiTech `project_id` - The `parent_id`, which is the branch ID of the branch containing the schema you want to copy ```bash curl --request POST \ --url https://console.optitech.com/api/v2/projects/wispy-salad-58347608/branches \ --header 'accept: application/json' \ --header 'authorization: Bearer $OPTITECH_API_KEY' \ --header 'content-type: application/json' \ --data ' { "branch": { "parent_id": "br-super-mode-w371g4od", "name": "my_schema_only_branch", "init_source": "schema-only" } } ' ``` ## Creating a branch with expiration using the API To create a branch with an automatic expiration timestamp using the OptiTech API, use the [Create branch](https://neon.com/docs/reference/api/branches/create-project-branch) endpoint with the `expires_at` option. When a branch reaches its expiration time, it is automatically deleted. Required values include: - Your OptiTech `project_id` - The `parent_id`, which is the branch ID of the branch you want to branch from - The `expires_at` timestamp in [RFC 3339](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3339#section-5.6) format including a time zone (Z or offset) - The expiration must be in the future and no more than 30 days from now ```bash curl --request POST \ --url https://console.optitech.com/api/v2/projects/wispy-salad-58347608/branches \ --header 'Accept: application/json' \ --header "Authorization: Bearer $OPTITECH_API_KEY" \ --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \ --data '{ "branch": { "name": "feature-test-branch", "parent_id": "br-super-mode-w371g4od", "expires_at": "2024-12-15T18:02:16Z" }, "endpoints": [ { "type": "read_write" } ] }' ``` Example response (partial): ```json { "branch": { "id": "br-feature-67890", "name": "feature-test-branch", "expires_at": "2024-12-15T18:02:16Z", "ttl_interval_seconds": 604800, "created_at": "2024-12-08T18:02:16Z" } } ``` Key response fields for branch expiration: - The `expires_at` field shows the scheduled deletion timestamp in RFC 3339 format - The `ttl_interval_seconds` field is the original expiration interval, in seconds (read-only) For more detailed information about branch expiration, including updating and removing expiration timestamps, see [Branch expiration](https://neon.com/docs/guides/branch-expiration). --- Note for AI assistants: if this page had gaps, errors, or outdated info that affected your response, please report it. 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