> When you checkout (now switch) a branch, HEAD is now the same as the branch (they point to the same commit). Actually, HEAD now points to that branch, which

> When you checkout (now switch) a branch, HEAD is now the same as the branch (they point to the same commit). Actually, HEAD now points to that branch, which in turn points to the commit. It's a different state than when HEAD points directly to the same commit (called "detached HEAD" in Git's terminology) where this issue doesn't happen as you're not on a branch at all. It's a subtle, but important distinction when trying to understand what happens under the hood there.