Master the Linux CP Command with Examples

Linux cp Command with Examples

Linux cp command is a command line utility for copying files and directories. It supports several options which allow you to copy files more effectively. In this article, we will learn the basics of cp command and its usage through some examples.

Syntax

cp [OPTIONS] SOURCE DESTINATION

Options

• -i: Prompts before overwriting
• -R: Copies data recursively (copies all files and subdirectories, including their contents)
• -v: Verbose mode
• -p: Preserves modification times, access times, and modes from the original file
• -f: Silently overwrites existing files and does not prompt for confirmation

Examples

Copying a Single File

# cp file1.txt /tmp/

Copying Multiple Files

# cp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt /tmp/

Copy a File to a Different Name (or Location)

# cp file1.txt file1_new.txt

Prompt Before Overwriting

# cp -i file1.txt /tmp/file1.txt

Copy Directories Recursively

# cp -R source_dir /tmp/

Verbose Mode

# cp -v file1.txt /tmp/

Preserve File Attributes

# cp -p file1.txt /tmp/

Silently Overwrite Files

# cp -f file1.txt /tmp/

We hope you got a good understanding of linux cp command and its usage with some examples. To know more about cp command you can use 'man' or 'info' command.