Name
cp - copy files and directoriesSynopsis
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.