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# cp - Unix, Linux Command

# 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.

Tag | Description
--- | ---
-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=link
-f, --force
| if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again
-i, --interactive
| prompt before overwrite
-H | follow command-line symbolic links
-l, --link | link files instead of copying
-L, --dereference
| always follow symbolic links
-P, --no-dereference
| never follow symbolic links
-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
--remove-destination
| remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force)
--sparse=WHEN
| control creation of sparse files
--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.
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.

# AUTHOR

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

# REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

# COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software. You may redistribute copies of it under the terms of the GNU General Public License <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

# SEE ALSO

cp is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and cp programs are properly installed at your site, the command

Tag | Description
--- | ---
| info cp

should give you access to the complete manual.

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