What is cp Linux command?

The Linux cp command is used to copy files and directories. It allows you to create exact copies of files while preserving their attributes like permissions and timestamps. With cp, you can also copy multiple files at once, copy directories recursively, and specify a different destination for the copied files.

cp Syntax:

cp [option] [source] [destination]

cp Options:

Option	Description
-a	Preserve ownership and mode
-i	Prompt before overwrite
-r	Copy directories recursively
-u	Copy only when the source file is newer than the destination file
-v	Verbose mode

Caution

Exercise caution when using the cp command, as it can overwrite existing files without warning. Always double-check your source and destination paths before executing the command.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
source	The file or directory to be copied
destination	The destination path for the copied file/directory

cp Command Usage Examples:

Copy a File to a Specific Destination

cp file.txt /home/user/Documents/

Copies the file “file.txt” to the specified destination “/home/user/Documents/“.

Copy Multiple Files to a Directory

cp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt /home/user/Documents/

Copies multiple files (file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt) to the directory “/home/user/Documents/“.

Recursive Copy of a Directory

cp -r source_directory/ destination_directory/

Recursively copies all files and subdirectories from “source_directory” to “destination_directory”.

Copy a File and Preserve Timestamps

cp -p file.txt new_file.txt

Copies the file “file.txt” to “new_file.txt” while preserving the original file’s timestamps.

Quiet Copy (Suppress Output)

cp -q file.txt /home/user/Documents/

Copies the file “file.txt” to “/home/user/Documents/” quietly without displaying the copied file’s details.

Tip

When using the cp command in Linux, make sure to double-check your command arguments and options before executing to prevent accidentally overwriting important files or directories.

How do I copy a file in Linux?

To copy a file in Linux using the cp command, use the following syntax:

cp file1.txt file2.txt

How do I copy a directory in Linux?

To copy a directory in Linux with all its contents using cp, you can use the following command:

cp -r directory1 directory2

How do I force the copy operation in Linux?

To force the copy operation in Linux, use the -f option with the cp command. This will overwrite any existing destination file without prompting for confirmation. For example:

cp -f file1.txt file2.txt

How do I preserve file attributes when copying in Linux?

To preserve file attributes like permissions, ownership, and timestamps when copying in Linux, use the -p option with the cp command. Here’s an example:

cp -p file1.txt file2.txt

How do I copy files interactively in Linux?

To copy files interactively in Linux, you can use the -i option with the cp command. This will prompt you before overwriting any existing destination files. For example:

cp -i file1.txt file2.txt

How do I copy multiple files to a directory in Linux?

To copy multiple files to a directory in Linux, specify the destination directory at the end of the cp command. Here’s an example:

cp file1.txt file2.txt directory/

How do I display the copy progress in Linux?

To display the copy progress in Linux while using the cp command, you can use the pv command in combination with cp. Here’s an example:

cp file.iso /dev/sdX | pv | dd of=/dev/sdY bs=4M

How do I copy files excluding certain patterns in Linux?

To copy files while excluding certain patterns in Linux, you can use the rsync command with the --exclude option. Here’s an example:

rsync -av --exclude='*.log' sourcedir destdir

Applications of the cp command

• Copy files
• Copy directories
• Copy multiple files into a directory
• Make backups of files
• Preserve file attributes such as ownership and timestamps
• Update existing files with newer versions
• Copy files while renaming them
• Copy files across different file systems