Software Development: Git flow overview

Permanent branches

master - the integration branch used for development. Feature branches are merged back into this branch
production - support preparation of a new production release (allow for minor bug fixes)

Temporary branches

features - used for specific feature work. Typically, this branches from and merges back into the development branch
releases - used for release tasks and long-term maintenance. Typically, this branches from the development branch and changes are merged back into the development branch
hotfixes - typically used to quickly fix the production branch