CP(1)                         User Commands                         CP(1)

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

       -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,owner‐
              ship,timestamps), if possible additional  attributes:  con‐
              text, links, xattr, all

       -c     deprecated, same as --preserve=context

       --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  destina‐
              tion 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  SIM‐
       PLE_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.

AUTHOR
       Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

REPORTING BUGS
       GNU  coreutils  online  help:  <https://www.gnu.org/software/core‐
       utils/>
       Report   any   translation   bugs   to    <https://translationpro‐
       ject.org/team/>

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright  ©  2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+:
       GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
       There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO
       Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cp>
       or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp invocation'

GNU coreutils 8.32              April 2020                          CP(1)