Linux cp Command: Copy Files and Directories with Examples

The cp command in Linux copies files to other files or to directories. The cp command can copy one file or multiple files.

The most common options are:

• -d: Preserves links when copying files;
• -p: Preserves all file attribute information, such as file owner, group, permissions, and date;
• -R: Copies files recursively. Useful for copying files and directories below the specified directory;
• -a: Does the same as the combined "-dpR" options;
• -f: Forces the copy by overwriting the destination;
• -i: Prompts the user before overwriting each file at the destination location;
• -v: Shows the name of each copied file.

Examples:

Copies arquivo1 to arquivo2 in the same directory:

$ cp arquivo1 arquivo2

Copies arquivo1 to the /tmp directory:

$ cp arquivo1 /tmp

Copies arquivo1 located in the /tmp directory to the local directory. The "." (dot) symbol specifies the local directory:

$ cp /tmp/arquivo1 .

Copies all the contents of the /var/log directory, including all subdirectories, to the "loglocal" directory:

$ cp –Rf /var/log/ loglocal

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