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]

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

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). -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.