cp command in Linux/Unix

cp is a Linux shell command to copy files and directories.

Copy from source to dest

$ cp [options] source dest

cp command main options:

option	description
cp -a	archive files
cp -f	force copy by removing the destination file if needed
cp -i	interactive - ask before overwrite
cp -l	link files instead of copy
cp -L	follow symbolic links
cp -n	no file overwrite
cp -R	recursive copy (including hidden files)
cp -u	update - copy when source is newer than dest
cp -v	verbose - print informative messages

Copy single file main.c to destination directory bak:

$ cp main.c bak

Copy 2 files main.c and def.h to destination absolute path directory /home/usr/cal/ :

$ cp main.c def.h /home/usr/cal/

Copy all C files in current directory to subdirectory bak :

$ cp *.c bak

Copy directory src to absolute path directory /home/usr/cal/ :

$ cp src /home/usr/cal/

Copy all files and directories in dev recursively to subdirectory bak:

$ cp -R dev bak

Force file copy:

$ cp -f test.c bak

Interactive prompt before file overwrite:

$ cp -i test.c bak
cp: overwrite 'bak/test.c'? y

Update all files in current directory - copy only newer files to destination directory bak:

$ cp -u * bak

Select cp options and press the Generate Code button:

Options
	Force copy (-f)
	Interactive - ask before overwrite (-i)
	Link files (-l)
	Follow symbolic links (-L)
	No overwrite (-n)
	Recursive directory tree copy (-R)
	Update newer files (-u)
	Verbose messages (-v)

Files / folders
	Source files / folders:
	Destination folder / file:

Output redirection




Click on textbox to select code, then copy and paste it into terminal: