cp(1)

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.

   -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.

AUTHOR

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

REPORTING BUGS

   GNU coreutils online help: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
   Report cp translation bugs to <http://translationproject.org/team/>

COPYRIGHT

   Copyright    2016  Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU
   GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
   This is free software: you are free  to  change  and  redistribute  it.
   There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO

   Full documentation at: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cp>
   or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp invocation'

---

Free and Open Source Software