Chapter 9: GitHub Actions Hands-On

9.8 Branch protection and required checks

By Ravindra Bagale · Last updated: 1 October 2026

In GitHub repo settings (when available on your plan):

1. Protect main.
2. Require a pull request before merge.
3. Require the badge API CI status check to pass.

This turns Chapter 8's "quality gate" into a real button the team cannot casually skip.