Linux cp Command- Copy backup Files, Folder and Directory, cmd Example

Tutorials

Linux-commands

Topic

What is Linux cp Command?

Explanation

cp COMMAND:
     cp command copy files from one location to another. If the destination is an existing file, then the file is overwritten; if the destination is an existing directory, the file is copied into the directory (the directory is not overwritten).

SYNTAX:
  The Syntax is
     cp [OPTIONS]... SOURCE DEST
     cp [OPTIONS]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
     cp [OPTIONS]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY SOURCE...

OPTIONS:

-a	same as -dpR.
--backup[=CONTROL]	make a backup of each existing destination file
-b	like --backup but does not accept an argument.
-f	if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again.
-p	same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps.
--preserve[=ATTR_LIST]	preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps) and security contexts, if possible additional attributes: links, all.
--no-preserve=ATTR_LIST	don't preserve the specified attribute.
--parents	append source path to DIRECTORY.

EXAMPLE:

Copy two files:
```
cp file1 file2
```
The above cp command copies the content of file1.php to file2.php.

To backup the copied file:
```
cp -b file1.php file2.php
```
Backup of file1.php will be created with '~' symbol as file2.php~.
Copy folder and subfolders:
```
cp -R scripts scripts1
```
The above cp command copy the folder and subfolders from scripts to scripts1.

cp Linux Commands