Linux cp Command
Learn Linux cp Command with example
Published
- Linux cp Command
- cp command Syntax
- cp command copy file Source to Destination
- cp command copying multiple files to a target directory
- cp -rt command copy all the contents of a directory
- cp -a command copying a directory recursively while keeping an archive
- cp -i command to prompt you before overwriting the target file
- cp -v command show details to copy files and folder
- cp command in Linux (Documentation)
Linux cp Command
In Linux we use “cp” command to copy files and directories from one location to the other.
cp command Syntax
$ cp sourcefile /destination/directory
# Copy from Source to Destination
cp command copy file Source to Destination
$ cp /home/Downloads/linux.iso /home/Desktop
# In this example cp command copy linux.iso file from Downloads to Desktop folder.
cp command copying multiple files to a target directory
$ cp sourcefile-01 sourcefile-02 sourcefile-03 /destination/directory
# In this example cp command copy multiple source files from source to desination folder.
cp -rt command copy all the contents of a directory
$ cp -rt /home/Downloads /home/Desktop/my-downloads
# In this example cp command copy all content from Downloads to Desktop/my-downloads folder. This is useful because it’s a very efficient way to copy many files at once.
cp -a command copying a directory recursively while keeping an archive
$ cp -a sourceDirectory destinationDirectory
# In this example cp command copying a directory recursively while keeping an archive. It will also keep the permissions, time stamp, symbolic links, and all such properties intact while copying files.
cp -i command to prompt you before overwriting the target file
$ cp -i sourcefile /destination/directory
$ cp -i /home/Downloads/linux.iso /home/Desktop/
# In this example cp command copy file but if file already exist then it will prompt you before overwriting the target file.
cp -v command show details to copy files and folder
$ cp -v sourcefile /destination/directory
$ cp -v /home/Downloads/linux.iso /home/Desktop/
# In this example cp -v command copy file and show the details for confirmation.
cp command in Linux (Documentation)
NAME
cp - copy files and directories
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 addi‐
tional 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 light‐
weight 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 VER‐
SION_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 other‐
wise
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.