cp command on Linux (copy files) [Basic Guide]

The cp command in Linux copies the files to other files or to directories. The cp command can copy one file or multiple files.

The most common options are:

• -d: Preserves links when copying files;
• -p: Preserves all file attribute information, such as file owner, group, permissions, and date;
• -R: Copy files recursively. Useful for copying files and directories below the specified directory;
• -a: Does the same as the combined “-dpr” options;
• -f: Forces the copy by writing over the destination;
• -i: Ask the user before copying each file over the destination location;
• -v: Shows the name of each file copied.

Examples:

Copy file1 to file2 in the same directory:

$ cp file1 file2

Copy file1 to the /tmp directory:

$ cp file1 /tmp

Copy file1 located in the /tmp directory to the local directory. The symbol “.” (dot) specifies the directory as local:

$ cp /tmp/file1. 

Copy the entire contents of the /var/log directory, including all subdirectories to the “loglocal” directory:

$ cp —Rf /var/log/ loglocal