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landing/docs/Linux-Commands/Working-With-Files/031-the-cp-command.md

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+# The `cp` command
+
+The `cp` is a command-line utility for copying files and directory.
+`cp` stands for copy. This command is used to copy files or group of files or directory. It creates an exact image of a file on a disk with different file name. The cp command requires at least two filenames in its arguments.
+
+### Examples:
+
+1. To copy the contents of the source file to the destination file.
+
+```
+cp sourceFile destFile
+```
+
+If the destination file doesn't exist then the file is created and the content is copied to it. If it exists then the file is overwritten. 
+
+2. To copy a file to another directory specify the absolute or the relative path to the destination directory.
+
+```
+cp sourceFile /folderName/destFile
+```
+
+3. To copy a directory, including all its files and subdirectories
+
+```
+cp -R folderName1 folderName2
+```
+
+The command above creates the destination directory and recursively copies all files and subdirectories from the source to the destination directory.
+
+If the destination directory already exists, the source directory itself and its content are copied inside the destination directory.
+
+4. To copy only the files and subdirectories but not the source directory
+
+```
+cp -RT folderName1 folderName2
+```
+
+### Syntax:
+
+The general syntax for the cp command is as follows:
+
+```
+cp [OPTION] SOURCE DESTINATION
+cp [OPTION] SOURCE DIRECTORY
+cp [OPTION] SOURCE-1 SOURCE-2 SOURCE-3 SOURCE-n DIRECTORY
+```
+
+The first and second syntax is used to copy Source file to Destination file or Directory.
+The third syntax is used to copy multiple Sources(files) to Directory.
+
+#### Some useful options
+
+1. `-i` (interactive)
+   `i` stands for Interactive copying. With this option system first warns the user before overwriting the destination file. cp prompts for a response, if you press y then it overwrites the file and with any other option leave it uncopied.
+
+```
+$ cp -i file1.txt fileName2.txt
+cp: overwrite 'file2.txt'? y
+```
+
+2. `-b`(backup)
+   -b(backup): With this option cp command creates the backup of the destination file in the same folder with the different name and in different format.
+
+```
+$ ls
+a.txt b.txt
+
+$ cp -b a.txt b.txt
+
+$ ls
+a.txt b.txt b.txt~
+```
+
+3. `-f`(force)
+   If the system is unable to open destination file for writing operation because the user doesn't have writing permission for this file then by using -f option with cp command, destination file is deleted first and then copying of content is done from source to destination file.
+```
+$ ls -l b.txt
+-r-xr-xr-x+ 1 User User 3 Nov 24 08:45 b.txt
+```
+User, group and others doesn't have writing permission.
+
+Without `-f` option, command not executed
+
+```
+$ cp a.txt b.txt
+cp: cannot create regular file 'b.txt': Permission denied
+```
+
+With -f option, command executed successfully
+```
+$ cp -f a.txt b.txt
+```
+
+### Additional Flags and their Functionalities:
+
+|**Short Flag**   |**Long Flag**   |**Description**   |
+|:---|:---|:---|
+|`-i`|<center>--interactive</center>|prompt before overwrite|
+|`-f`|<center>--force</center>|If an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again|
+|`-b`|<center>-</center>|Creates the backup of the destination file in the same folder with the different name and in different format.|
+|`-r or -R`|`--recursive`|**cp** command shows its recursive behavior by copying the entire directory structure recursively.|
+|`-n`|`--no-clobber`|do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)|
+|`-p`|<center>-</center>|preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all|