cp

copy files

TLDR

Copy a file to another location

$ cp [path/to/source_file.ext] [path/to/target_file.ext]

Copy a file into another directory, keeping the filename

$ cp [path/to/source_file.ext] [path/to/target_parent_directory]

Recursively copy a directory's contents to another location (if the destination exists, the directory is copied inside it)

$ cp -R [path/to/source_directory] [path/to/target_directory]

Copy a directory recursively, in verbose mode (shows files as they are copied)

$ cp -vR [path/to/source_directory] [path/to/target_directory]

Copy multiple files at once to a directory

$ cp -t [path/to/destination_directory] [path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...]

Copy text files to another location, in interactive mode (prompts user before overwriting)

$ cp -i [*.txt] [path/to/target_directory]

Follow symbolic links before copying

$ cp -L [link] [path/to/target_directory]

Use the first argument as the destination directory (useful for xargs ... | cp -t )

$ cp -t [path/to/target_directory] [path/to/file_or_directory1 path/to/file_or_directory2 ...]

SYNOPSIS

cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
cp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION

Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

-a, --archive: same as -dR --preserve=all
--attributes-only: don't copy the file data, just the attributes
--backup[=CONTROL]: make a backup of each existing destination file
-b: like --backup but does not accept an argument
--copy-contents: copy contents of special files when recursive
-d: same as --no-dereference --preserve=links
-f, --force: if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again (this option is ignored when the -n option is also used)
-i, --interactive: prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option)
-H: follow command-line symbolic links in SOURCE
-l, --link: hard link files instead of copying
-L, --dereference: always follow symbolic links in SOURCE
-n, --no-clobber: do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)
-P, --no-dereference: never follow symbolic links in SOURCE
-p: same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
--preserve[=ATTR_LIST]: preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all
--no-preserve=ATTR_LIST: don't preserve the specified attributes
--parents: use full source file name under DIRECTORY
-R, -r, --recursive: copy directories recursively
--reflink[=WHEN]: control clone/CoW copies. See below
--remove-destination: remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force)
--sparse=WHEN: control creation of sparse files. See below
--strip-trailing-slashes: remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
-s, --symbolic-link: make symbolic links instead of copying
-S, --suffix=SUFFIX: override the usual backup suffix
-t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY: copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
-T, --no-target-directory: treat DEST as a normal file
-u, --update: copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing
-v, --verbose: explain what is being done
-x, --one-file-system: stay on this file system
-Z: set SELinux security context of destination file to default type
--context[=CTX]: like -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX
--help: display this help and exit
--version: output version information and exit

By default, sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude heuristic and the corresponding DEST file is made sparse as well. That is the behavior selected by --sparse=auto. Specify --sparse=always to create a sparse DEST file whenever the SOURCE file contains a long enough sequence of zero bytes. Use --sparse=never to inhibit creation of sparse files.

When --reflink[=always] is specified, perform a lightweight copy, where the data blocks are copied only when modified. If this is not possible the copy fails, or if --reflink=auto is specified, fall back to a standard copy. Use --reflink=never to ensure a standard copy is performed.

The backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values:

none, off: never make backups (even if --backup is given)
numbered, t: make numbered backups
existing, nil: numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
simple, never: always make simple backups

As a special case, cp makes a backup of SOURCE when the force and backup options are given and SOURCE and DEST are the same name for an existing, regular file.

cp

copy files

TLDR

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

REPORTING BUGS

COPYRIGHT

SEE ALSO

AUTHOR