| -a--archive | same as -dR--preserve=all |
| --attributes-only | don't copy the file data, just the attributes |
| --backup | 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 |
| --debug | explain how a file is copied. Implies -v |
| -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 | (deprecated) silently skip existing files. See also --update |
| -P--no-dereference | never follow symbolic links in SOURCE |
| -p | same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps |
| --preserve | preserve the specified attributes |
| --no-preserve | don't preserve the specified attributes |
| --parents | use full source file name under DIRECTORY |
| -R-r--recursive | copy directories recursively |
| --reflink | control clone/CoW copies. See below |
| --remove-destination | remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force) |
| --sparse | 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 | override the usual backup suffix |
| -t--target-directory | copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY |
| -T--no-target-directory | treat DEST as a normal file |
| --update | control which existing files are updated; UPDATE={all,none,none-fail,older(default)} |
| -u | equivalent to --update[=older]. See below |
| -v--verbose | explain what is being done |
| --keep-directory-symlink | follow existing symlinks to directories |
| -x--one-file-system | stay on this file system |
| -Z | set SELinux security context of destination file to default type |
| --context | 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 |
| 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 |
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
- --debug
explain how a file is copied. Implies -v
- -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
(deprecated) silently skip existing files. See also --update
- -P, --no-dereference
never follow symbolic links in SOURCE
- -p
same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
- --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
preserve the specified attributes
- --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
- --update[=UPDATE]
control which existing files are updated; UPDATE={all,none,none-fail,older(default)}
- -u
equivalent to --update[=older]. See below
- -v, --verbose
explain what is being done
- --keep-directory-symlink
follow existing symlinks to directories
- -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
ATTR_LIST is a comma-separated list of attributes. Attributes are 'mode' for permissions (including any ACL and xattr permissions), 'ownership' for user and group, 'timestamps' for file timestamps, 'links' for hard links, 'context' for security context, 'xattr' for extended attributes, and 'all' for all attributes.
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.
UPDATE controls which existing files in the destination are replaced. 'all' is the default operation when an --update option is not specified, and results in all existing files in the destination being replaced. 'none' is like the --no-clobber option, in that no files in the destination are replaced, and skipped files do not induce a failure. 'none-fail' also ensures no files are replaced in the destination, but any skipped files are diagnosed and induce a failure. 'older' is the default operation when --update is specified, and results in files being replaced if they're older than the corresponding source file.
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. Use --reflink=never to ensure a standard copy is performed.
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: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
install(1)
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cp> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp invocation'
Packaged by Debian (9.7-3) Copyright © 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://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.