cp — copy files and directories
Examples (TL;DR)
-
Copy a file to another location:
cp path/to/file.ext path/to/copy.ext -
Copy a file into another directory, keeping the filename:
cp path/to/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/directory path/to/copy -
Copy a directory recursively, in verbose mode (shows files as they are copied):
cp -vr path/to/directory path/to/copy -
Copy text files to another location, in interactive mode (prompts user before overwriting):
cp -i *.txt path/to/target_directory
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
- -c
deprecated, same as --preserve=context
- --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.
Reporting Bugs
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
See Also
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cp>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp invocation'
Referenced By
acl(5), cpdup(1), cpuset(7), dccp(1), enca(1), gdbm(3), gio(1), guestfs-recipes(1), icmd(1), memcp(1), mksh(1), mmv(1), ptrash(1), rbldnsd(8), rcp(1), rmlint(1), rsnapshot(1), rsync(1), spax(1), swapon(8), symlink(7), virt-sysprep(1).