Status check

Learn the required status check rule.

What Is a Status Check?

A status check is a result that indicates whether a pull request has passed specific automated checks. CI tools such as GitHub Actions report whether tests and other validations have succeeded or failed. These checks can be required before merging into a protected branch.

test:
  result: success
build:
  result: success

This helps prevent changes with failing tests from reaching the main branch.

Selecting Required Checks

You can select which status check results are required in GitHub branch protection settings. For example, a pull request cannot be merged until the CI job named test succeeds. The check name must match the name reported by CI.

required_status_checks:
  strict: true
  contexts:
    - test

strict: true also requires the branch to be up to date with the target branch, so changes that fall behind the target can be validated again.

Exercise Require the Test Check

Create a required_status_checks section for the main branch. Set strict to true and add the test check to the contexts list.

Show example solution

main:
  required_status_checks:
    strict: true
    contexts:
      - test

Test yourself

What happens if a required test check fails on a pull request?
- The test result automatically becomes successful
- The pull request is automatically deleted
- The Git repository is closed
- The merge requirement is not satisfied
Show answer

The merge requirement is not satisfied — When a required status check fails, the merge is blocked because the required condition has not been met.

Specify a Required Check Name

required_status_checks:
  strict: true
  contexts:
    - ____

Show answer

required_status_checks:
  strict: true
  contexts:
    - test

Status Check Components

Status check

An automated check result
CI

Runs tests and builds
contexts

Contains required check names
strict

Requires target branch updates

Next lesson: Summary - Branch protection

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