CP(1) User Commands CP(1)
NAMEcp -copy files and directories
SYNOPSIScp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DESTcp[OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORYcp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...
DESCRIPTION
Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
Mandatory arguments tolong options are mandatory for shortoptions too.-a, --archive
same as-dR --preserve=all--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, --forceif an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again (redundant if the -n option is used)-i, --interactive
prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous-n option)-H follow command-line symbolic links inSOURCE-l, --link
link files instead of copying-L, --dereference
always follow symbolic linksinSOURCE-n, --no-clobberdo not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)-P, --no-dereference
never follow symbolic linksinSOURCE-p same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps--preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps),ifpossible additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all-c same as --preserve=context--no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
don’t preserve the specified attributes--parents
use full sourcefilename under DIRECTORY-R, -r, --recursive
copy directories recursively--reflink[=WHEN]
control clone/CoW copies. See below.--remove-destination
remove each existing destinationfile 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-linkmakesymbolic 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 normalfile
-u, --update
copy only when the SOURCEfile is newer than the destination file or when the destination fileis missing-v, --verbose
explain what is beingdone
-x, --one-file-system
stay on thisfilesystem-Z, --context=CONTEXT
set security context of copy to CONTEXT--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 DESTfileis 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, orif --reflink=auto is specified, fall back to a standard copy.
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
nevermake backups (even if --backup is given)
numbered, tmakenumbered backups
existing, nil
numberedifnumbered backups exist, simple otherwise
simple, never
alwaysmakesimple backups
As a specialcase, 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.
AUTHOR
Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.
REPORTING BUGS
Reportcp bugs to bug-coreutils@gnu.org
GNU coreutils home page:
General help using GNU software:
Report cp translation bugs to
COPYRIGHT
Copyright ©2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later .
This is free software: you are freeto change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
SEE ALSO
The full documentationfor cp is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and cpprograms are properly installed at your site, the commandinfo coreutils 'cp invocation'should give you access to the complete manual.
GNU coreutils8.4 March 2017 CP(1)