CP

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

−−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 (redundant if the −n option is used)

−i, −−interactive

prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous −n option)

−H

follow command−line symbolic links in SOURCE

−l, −−link

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

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=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 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.

Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

Report cp bugs to bug−coreutils@gnu.org
GNU coreutils home page: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
General help using GNU software: <http://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>
Report cp translation bugs to <http://translationproject.org/team/>

Copyright © 2010 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.