cp: Copy files and directories

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
--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: 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:

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.

cp (1)

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