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
-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
do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i
option)
-P, --no-dereference
never follow symbolic links in SOURCE
-p same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps
--preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
preserve the specified attributes (default:
mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional
attributes: context, links, xattr, all
--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
-u, --update
copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the
destination file or when the destination file is missing
-v, --verbose
explain what is being done
-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
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.
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.
