cp
File and directory copy utility
TLDR
Copy file
$ cp [source.txt] [destination.txt]
Copy directory$ cp -r [source_dir] [dest_dir]
Copy with backup$ cp --backup [source] [dest]
Preserve attributes$ cp -p [source] [dest]
Interactive mode$ cp -i [source] [dest]
SYNOPSIS
cp [options] source destination
DESCRIPTION
cp copies files and directories. It can copy single files, multiple files to a directory, or entire directory trees. It preserves or modifies file attributes depending on options used.
The command is a fundamental tool for file management on Unix systems.
PARAMETERS
-r, -R, --recursive
Copy directories recursively-i, --interactive
Prompt before overwrite-f, --force
Force overwrite-n, --no-clobber
Don't overwrite existing files-p, --preserve
Preserve mode, ownership, timestamps-a, --archive
Archive mode (same as -dR --preserve=all)-u, --update
Copy only when source is newer-v, --verbose
Verbose output-l, --link
Hard link instead of copy-s, --symbolic-link
Symbolic link instead of copy--backup
Backup existing files
WORKFLOW
$ # Copy file
cp file.txt copy.txt
# Copy to directory
cp file.txt /tmp/
# Copy multiple files
cp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt /destination/
# Copy directory
cp -r source_dir/ destination_dir/
# Preserve attributes
cp -p original.txt copy.txt
# Archive copy (preserve everything)
cp -a directory/ backup/
# Interactive (ask before overwrite)
cp -i file.txt existing.txt
# Backup existing file
cp --backup file.txt existing.txt
cp file.txt copy.txt
# Copy to directory
cp file.txt /tmp/
# Copy multiple files
cp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt /destination/
# Copy directory
cp -r source_dir/ destination_dir/
# Preserve attributes
cp -p original.txt copy.txt
# Archive copy (preserve everything)
cp -a directory/ backup/
# Interactive (ask before overwrite)
cp -i file.txt existing.txt
# Backup existing file
cp --backup file.txt existing.txt
COPYING DIRECTORIES
$ # Copy directory and contents
cp -r project/ project_backup/
# Archive mode (preserve all attributes)
cp -a /data/ /backup/data/
# Update only newer files
cp -ru source/ destination/
cp -r project/ project_backup/
# Archive mode (preserve all attributes)
cp -a /data/ /backup/data/
# Update only newer files
cp -ru source/ destination/
CAVEATS
Without -r, cannot copy directories. Overwrites by default (use -i for safety). -p doesn't always preserve all attributes. Large recursive copies can be slow. Sparse files may not be handled efficiently. Symlinks copied as links or dereferenced depending on options.
HISTORY
cp has been a core Unix command since the early 1970s, part of the original Unix toolset.
