The cp command in Unix and Linux is used to copy files and directories. It can copy single files, multiple files, and entire directory trees. Understanding the various options available with cp can help you perform more complex file operations with ease.
Basic Usage
The basic syntax for the cp command is:
cp [options] source destination
options: Command-line options to control the behavior of cp.
source: The file or directory to be copied.
destination: The location where the copy should be placed.
Examples
Copying a Single File
To copy a single file:
cp file1.txt file2.txt
This command copies file1.txt to file2.txt. If file2.txt already exists, it will be overwritten.
Copying Multiple Files
To copy multiple files to a directory:
cp file1.txt file2.txt dir/
This command copies file1.txt and file2.txt to the directory dir.
Copying Directories
To copy a directory and its contents:
cp -r dir1 dir2
This command copies the directory dir1 and all its contents (including subdirectories) to dir2.
Options
-i Option: Interactive Mode
To prompt before overwriting files:
cp -i file1.txt file2.txt
This command prompts the user for confirmation before overwriting file2.txt.
-r Option: Recursive Copy
To copy directories recursively:
cp -r dir1 dir2
This command copies the directory dir1 and its contents to dir2.
-a Option: Archive Mode
To preserve the structure and attributes of files and directories:
cp -a dir1 dir2
This command preserves all attributes, including symbolic links, file permissions, and timestamps, when copying dir1 to dir2.
-u Option: Update Mode
To copy only when the source file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing:
cp -u file1.txt file2.txt
This command copies file1.txt to file2.txt only if file1.txt is newer or if file2.txt does not exist.
-v Option: Verbose Mode
To display detailed information about the copy process:
cp -v file1.txt file2.txt
This command outputs detailed information about what is being copied.
-p Option: Preserve File Attributes
To preserve file attributes such as mode, ownership, and timestamps:
cp -p file1.txt file2.txt
This command copies file1.txt to file2.txt and preserves the original file's attributes.
Practical Use Cases
Backup Files
To create a backup of a file:
cp file.txt file.txt.bak
This command creates a backup of file.txt with the name file.txt.bak.
Copying Configuration Files
To copy configuration files to a backup directory:
cp -r /etc/myconfig /backup/myconfig
This command copies the /etc/myconfig directory and its contents to the /backup/myconfig directory.
Updating Files
To update files in a destination directory with newer versions from the source directory:
cp -u /source/* /destination/
This command copies all files from /source to /destination, only overwriting files that are newer.
Summary
The cp command is a fundamental tool for copying files and directories in Unix and Linux environments. With its various options, it provides flexibility for different copy scenarios, such as preserving attributes, copying recursively, and updating files. Understanding these options and practical use cases can greatly enhance your file management capabilities.
help
Usage: cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
or: cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
or: cp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...
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
man
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 op‐
tion 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 des‐
tination 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. Spec‐
ify --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 --re‐
flink=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 en‐
vironment 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.