# cp

## 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.
    


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