cp

Copy files and directories

TLDR

Copy a file to a destination

$ cp [path/to/source.txt] [path/to/destination.txt]

Copy a directory recursively

$ cp -r [path/to/source_dir] [path/to/dest_dir]

Copy with interactive prompt before overwrite

$ cp -i [path/to/source] [path/to/dest]

Preserve mode, ownership, and timestamps

$ cp -p [path/to/source] [path/to/dest]

Archive copy (preserve all attributes, recursive)

$ cp -a [path/to/source_dir] [path/to/dest_dir]

Copy multiple files to a directory

$ cp [file1] [file2] [file3] [path/to/dest_dir/]

SYNOPSIS

cp [options] [-T] source destcp [options] source... directorycp [options] -t directory source...

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

-t, --target-directory DIR

Copy all sources into DIR

-T, --no-target-directory

Treat destination as a normal file

--backup[=CONTROL]

Backup existing files

-d

Same as --no-dereference --preserve=links

--preserve=ATTRLIST_

Preserve specified attributes (mode,ownership,timestamps,context,links,xattr,all)

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

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/

CAVEATS

Without -r, cannot copy directories. Overwrites by default (use -i for safety). When -n and -i are both given, the last one takes precedence. -p doesn't always preserve all attributes (use --preserve=all for everything). Large recursive copies can be slow. Sparse files may not be handled efficiently without --sparse=always. Symlinks are 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.

cp