cp ( 1 ) USER COMMANDScp ( 1 )

NAME

cp - copy files

SYNOPSIS

cp [ options ] source destination
cp [ options ] file ... directory

DESCRIPTION

If the last argument names an existing directory, cp copies each file into a file with the same name in that directory. Otherwise, if only two files are given, cp copies the first onto the second. It is an error if the last argument is not a directory and more than two files are given. By default directories are not copied.

OPTIONS

-a, --archive
Preserve as much as possible of the structure and attributes of the original files in the copy. Equivalent to --physical --preserve --recursive.
-p, --preserve
Preserve file owner, group, permissions and timestamps.
-h, --hierarchy|parents
Form the name of each destination file by appending to the target directory a slash and the specified source file name. The last argument must be an existing directory. Missing destination directories are created.
-H, --metaphysical
Follow command argument symbolic links, otherwise don't follow.
-l, --link
Make hard links to destination files instead of copies.
-L, --logical|dereference
Follow symbolic links and copy the files they point to.
-P|d, --physical|nodereference
Don't follow symbolic links; copy symbolic rather than the files they point to.
-f, --force
Replace existing destination files.
-i, --interactive|prompt
Prompt whether to replace existing destination files. An affirmative response (y or Y) replaces the file, a quit response (q or Q) exits immediately, and all other responses skip the file.
-r|R, --recursive
Operate on the contents of directories recursively.
-s, --symlink|symbolic-link
Make symbolic links to destination files.
-u, --update
Replace a destination file only if its modification time is older than the corresponding source file modification time.
-v, --verbose
Print the name of each file before operating on it.
-b, --backup
Make backups of files that are about to be replaced. See --suffix and --version-control for more information.
-F, --fsync|sync
fsync(2) each file after it is copied.
-S, --backup-suffix|suffix=suffix
A backup file is made by renaming the file to the same name with the backup suffix appended. The backup suffix is determined in this order: this option, the SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX, environment variable, or the default value ~.
-V, --backup-type|version-control=type
The backup type is determined in this order: this option, the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable, or the default value existing. type may be one of:
numbered|t
Always make numbered backups. The numbered backup suffix is .SNS, where S is the backup-suffix and N is the version number, starting at 1, incremented with each version.
existing|nil
Make numbered backups of files that already have them, otherwise simple backups.
simple|never
Always make simple backups.
-x|X|l, --xdev|local|mount|one-file-system
Do not descend into directories in different filesystems than their parents.

SEE ALSO

pax(1), fsync(2), rename(2), unlink(2), remove(3)

IMPLEMENTATION

version
cp (AT&T Research) 2007-12-13
author
Glenn Fowler <gsf@research.att.com>
author
David Korn <dgk@research.att.com>
copyright
Copyright © 1992-2008 AT&T Intellectual Property
license
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/cpl1.0.txt