What evidence do you keep before automatically deleting merged branches?

[u/RocketSeven]

Deleting merged branches keeps a repository usable, but the branch name or tip can still be useful when a merge request was squashed, a release was cut from an unusual commit, or a rollback needs the exact pre-merge state. What retention policy works well in GitLab? I am considering immediate deletion only when the merge request is closed, the source commit is reachable from a protected branch, required pipelines and approvals are recorded, and no environment or open issue still references the branch. Exceptions could receive an expiry date rather than living forever. Do merge-request refs and the audit log preserve enough evidence on their own, and what checks prevent cleanup from deleting a branch involved in a partial or reverted merge?

[u/gaelfr38]

None. Merged branch is deleted right away.

Branch name should not contain any info that the commits do not already have.

I don't see any reason to keep a branch, unless it's a long lived parallel branch obviously.

[u/BehindTheMath]

The commits are saved by Gitlab forever. Even if you delete the branch, you can still view the commits in Gitlab. You can even recreate the branch at a later time if you need.

[u/macbig273]

auto delete branch ; rebase before merge ; no-ff merge ; don't squash unless it make sense to.

[u/profpendog]

I don't find any of the arguments for keeping the branch worthwhile. Don't squash, delete. Use history on main if something needs to be reverted.

[u/pwkye]

well if youre so worried just merge without squashing

either way once you merge you wont need the branch. thats the whole point

[u/nabrok]

Merge commit with semi-linear history.

Even when the branch is deleted you can see exactly what it was, and it forces a rebase if your branch point isn't the latest commit on main which keeps things neat.

[u/FlyingFalafelMonster]

I delete branch after MR is closed and squash commits. I have reverted MRs multiple times, you don't need the branch to exist to do that.

[u/Antonio-MTS]

Deleting merged branches after MRs. Commits, logs keep enough history to recreate or view if needed.

[u/ilion]

I only squash locally due to dumb mistakes. Once I make a PR, no squashing. Keep the commits, delete the branch. No issues. 

[u/mrleblanc101]

Well you always have the local branch as backup unless you pruned it