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