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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.

same as -dR --preserve=all
don't copy the file data, just the attributes
make a backup of each existing destination file
like --backup but does not accept an argument
copy contents of special files when recursive
same as --no-dereference --preserve=links
if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again (this option is ignored when the -n option is also used)
prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option)
follow command-line symbolic links in SOURCE
hard link files instead of copying
always follow symbolic links in SOURCE
do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)
never follow symbolic links in SOURCE
same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all
deprecated, same as --preserve=context
don't preserve the specified attributes
use full source file name under DIRECTORY
copy directories recursively
control clone/CoW copies. See below
remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force)
control creation of sparse files. See below
remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
make symbolic links instead of copying
override the usual backup suffix
copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
treat DEST as a normal file
copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing
explain what is being done
stay on this file system
set SELinux security context of destination file to default type
like -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX
display this help and exit
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:

never make backups (even if --backup is given)
make numbered backups
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
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/>

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 permitted 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.

November 2020 GNU coreutils 8.22