CP

cp − copy files and directories

cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST
cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
cp [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY SOURCE...

Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

−a, −−archive

same as −dpR

−b, −−backup[=CONTROL]

make a backup of each existing destination file

−d, −−no−dereference

preserve links

−f, −−force

remove existing destinations, never prompt

−i, −−interactive

prompt before overwrite

−l, −−link

link files instead of copying

−p, −−preserve

preserve file attributes if possible

−P, −−parents

append source path to DIRECTORY

−r

copy recursively, non-directories as files WARNING: use −R instead when you might copy special files like FIFOs or /dev/zero

−−sparse=WHEN

control creation of sparse files

−R, −−recursive

copy directories recursively

−s, −−symbolic−link

make symbolic links instead of copying

−S, −−suffix=SUFFIX

override the usual backup suffix

−−target−directory=DIRECTORY

move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

−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

−−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.

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 bugs to <bug-fileutils@gnu.org>.

Copyright © 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

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 cp

should give you access to the complete manual.