cp − copy files and directories
cp
[OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
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
|
−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, −−context[=CTX]
set SELinux security context of destination file to default type, or to CTX if specified
|
−−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.
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.
GNU coreutils online help: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report cp translation bugs to <http://translationproject.org/team/>
Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.
Copyright
© 2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+:
GNU GPL version 3 or later
<http://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.
The full documentation for cp is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and cp programs are properly installed at your site, the command
info coreutils 'cp invocation'
should give you access to the complete manual.