Command library / cp

Copy files and directories

Copies a file (or, with -r, an entire directory tree) to a new location. The source comes first, the destination second — get that backwards and you copy the wrong thing over the wrong thing.

Usage

Options and flags

• source

  file or directory to copy

• destination

  where to put the copy

• -r, -R

  recursive: required to copy a directory

• -v

  verbose: print each file as it's copied

• -i

  interactive: ask before overwriting an existing file

• -p

  preserve mode, ownership and timestamps

Examples

• cp report.txt backup/report.txt

  Copy one file into a backup folder.

• cp -r project/ project-backup/

  Copy an entire directory tree.

• cp -v config.yml config.yml.bak

  Make a quick backup copy, printing confirmation.

• cp -i secrets.env /tmp/secrets.env

  Copy but ask first if the destination already exists.

Common mistakes

Related commands