diff --git a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/environment.adoc b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/environment.adoc
index 2499f25..50a2184 100644
--- a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/environment.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/environment.adoc
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ The following key/values may be defined in the properties file or as environment
 | JRELEASER_TAG_NAME       | the release tag name
 | JRELEASER_RELEASE_NAME   | the release name
 | JRELEASER_MILESTONE_NAME | the milestone name/title
-| JRELEASER_BRANCH         | the release branch (targetCommitish/ref)
+| JRELEASER_BRANCH         | the release branch
 | JRELEASER_OVERWRITE      | overwrite an existing release
 | JRELEASER_UPDATE         | update an existing release
 | JRELEASER_SKIP_TAG       | skip tagging the release
diff --git a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitea.adoc b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitea.adoc
index 57b30b0..4cb31f3 100644
--- a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitea.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitea.adoc
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ release:
     # May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
     # Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
     # icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-    targetCommitish: main
+    branch: main
 
     # Marks the release as a draft.
     # May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ TOML::
   # May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
   # Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
   # icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-  targetCommitish = "main"
+  branch = "main"
 
   # Marks the release as a draft.
   # May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ JSON::
       // May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
       // Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
       // icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-      "targetCommitish": "main",
+      "branch": "main",
 
       // Marks the release as a draft.
       // May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@ Maven::
         Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
         icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
       -->
-      <targetCommitish>main</targetCommitish>
+      <branch>main</branch>
 
       <!--
         Marks the release as a draft.
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ jreleaser {
       // May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
       // Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
       // icon:dot-circle[]v
-      targetCommitish = 'main'
+      branch = 'main'
 
       // Marks the release as a draft.
       // May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
diff --git a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/github.adoc b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/github.adoc
index 68d4f58..b4e60b5 100644
--- a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/github.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/github.adoc
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ release:
     # May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
     # Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
     # icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-    targetCommitish: main
+    branch: main
 
     # Marks the release as a draft.
     # May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ TOML::
   # May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
   # Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
   # icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-  targetCommitish = "main"
+  branch = "main"
 
   # Marks the release as a draft.
   # May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ JSON::
       // May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
       // Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
       // icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-      "targetCommitish": "main",
+      "branch": "main",
 
       // Marks the release as a draft.
       // May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ Maven::
         Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
         icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
       -->
-      <targetCommitish>main</targetCommitish>
+      <branch>main</branch>
 
       <!--
         Marks the release as a draft.
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ jreleaser {
       // May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
       // Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
       // icon:dot-circle[]v
-      targetCommitish = 'main'
+      branch = 'main'
 
       // Marks the release as a draft.
       // May define a `JRELEASER_DRAFT` environment variable instead.
diff --git a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitlab.adoc b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitlab.adoc
index 82fbaf9..208081e 100644
--- a/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitlab.adoc
+++ b/docs/modules/configuration/pages/release/gitlab.adoc
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ release:
     # May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
     # Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
     # icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-    ref: main
+    branch: main
 
     # The following properties define icon:dot-circle[] URL formats.
     # Defaults are shown.
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ TOML::
   # May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
   # Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
   # icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-  ref = "main"
+  branch = "main"
 
   # The following properties define icon:dot-circle[] URL formats.
   # Defaults are shown.
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ JSON::
       // May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
       // Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
       // icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-      "ref": "main",
+      "branch": "main",
 
       // The following properties define icon:dot-circle[] URL formats.
       // Defaults are shown.
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ Maven::
         Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
         icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
       -->
-      <ref>main</ref>
+      <branch>main</branch>
 
       <!--
         The following properties define icon:dot-circle[] URL formats.
@@ -1426,7 +1426,7 @@ jreleaser {
       // May define a `JRELEASER_BRANCH` environment variable instead.
       // Defaults to the branch pointed by HEAD.
       // icon:dot-circle[] icon:eye-slash[]
-      ref = 'main'
+      branch = 'main'
 
       // The following properties define icon:dot-circle[] URL formats.
       // Defaults are shown.