CP(1) User Commands CP(1)
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 additional
attributes: context, links, xattr, all
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 miss‐
ing
-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.
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:
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/>
AUTHOR
Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.
COPYRIGHT
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 per‐
mitted by law.
SEE ALSO
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.
GNU coreutils 8.22 November 2016 CP(1)
Back to main site | Back to man page index