cp Command Guide

Basic Usage

Copy a file to a new location or with a new name.

bash

# Copy file to new name
cp file.txt copy.txt

# Copy file to directory
cp file.txt /path/to/directory/

# Copy multiple files to directory
cp file1.txt file2.txt /path/to/directory/

Common Options

cp Options

-r, -R	Copy directories recursively
-i	Prompt before overwriting
-n	Do not overwrite existing files
-u	Copy only when source is newer
-v	Verbose output
-p	Preserve mode, ownership, timestamps
-a	Archive mode (preserve all attributes)
-l	Create hard links instead of copying
-s	Create symbolic links instead of copying

Copying Directories

bash

# Copy directory recursively
cp -r source_dir/ dest_dir/

# Copy with verbose output
cp -rv source_dir/ dest_dir/

# Archive mode (preserves everything)
cp -a source_dir/ dest_dir/

Warning

Without -r, cp will skip directories. Always use -r when copying directories.

Preventing Overwrites

bash

# Ask before overwriting
cp -i file.txt /destination/

# Never overwrite
cp -n file.txt /destination/

# Only copy if source is newer
cp -u file.txt /destination/

Preserving File Attributes

bash

# Preserve mode, ownership, timestamps
cp -p file.txt backup.txt

# Archive mode (equivalent to -dR --preserve=all)
cp -a source_dir/ backup_dir/

Tip

Use cp -a for backups to preserve all file attributes including symbolic links.

Creating Links

bash

# Create hard link
cp -l file.txt hardlink.txt

# Create symbolic link
cp -s file.txt symlink.txt

# Or use ln command
ln file.txt hardlink.txt
ln -s file.txt symlink.txt

Practical Examples

Backup a configuration file

bash

cp /etc/nginx/nginx.conf /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.bak

Copy with timestamp in filename

bash

cp file.txt "file_$(date +%Y%m%d).txt"

Copy directory structure only (without files)

bash

find source_dir -type d -exec mkdir -p dest_dir/{} \;

Copy specific file types

bash

# Copy all .txt files
cp *.txt /destination/

# Copy with find
find . -name "*.jpg" -exec cp {} /destination/ \;

Progress indicator for large files

bash

# Using rsync instead
rsync -ah --progress source dest

# Or use pv
pv source.iso > dest.iso

Copy to remote via SSH

bash

scp file.txt user@host:/path/to/destination/
scp -r directory/ user@host:/path/to/destination/

cp vs rsync

For large copies or syncing, rsync is often better:

bash

# rsync advantages:
# - Shows progress
# - Can resume interrupted transfers
# - Only copies changed files

rsync -avh --progress source/ dest/

Summary

cp is fundamental for file management. Key takeaways:

Use cp -r for directories
Use cp -i to prevent accidental overwrites
Use cp -a for backups (preserves everything)
Use cp -u to update only newer files
Consider rsync for large transfers

Quick Reference

Basic

Options

Preserve

Advanced

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Basic Usage

Common Options

cp Options

Copying Directories

Preventing Overwrites

Preserving File Attributes

Creating Links

Practical Examples

Backup a configuration file

Copy with timestamp in filename

Copy directory structure only (without files)

Copy specific file types

Progress indicator for large files

Copy to remote via SSH

cp vs rsync

Summary

Related Articles

mv Command Guide

rm Command Guide

mkdir Command Guide