{
"mode": "man",
"parameter": "CP",
"section": "1",
"url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/CP/1/json",
"generated": "2026-06-10T15:25:48Z",
"synopsis": "cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST\ncp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY\ncp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...",
"sections": {
"NAME": {
"content": "cp - copy files and directories\n",
"subsections": []
},
"SYNOPSIS": {
"content": "cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST\ncp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY\ncp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...\n",
"subsections": []
},
"DESCRIPTION": {
"content": "Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.\n\nMandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.\n",
"subsections": [
{
"name": "-a --archive",
"content": "same as -dR --preserve=all\n",
"flag": "-a",
"long": "--archive"
},
{
"name": "--attributes-only",
"content": "don't copy the file data, just the attributes\n\n--backup[=CONTROL]\nmake a backup of each existing destination file\n",
"long": "--attributes-only"
},
{
"name": "-b --backup",
"content": "",
"flag": "-b",
"long": "--backup"
},
{
"name": "--copy-contents",
"content": "copy contents of special files when recursive\n",
"long": "--copy-contents"
},
{
"name": "-d --no-dereference --preserve",
"content": "",
"flag": "-d",
"long": "--preserve"
},
{
"name": "-f --force",
"content": "if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again (this option\nis ignored when the -n option is also used)\n",
"flag": "-f",
"long": "--force"
},
{
"name": "-i --interactive",
"content": "prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option)\n",
"flag": "-i",
"long": "--interactive"
},
{
"name": "-H",
"content": "",
"flag": "-H"
},
{
"name": "-l --link",
"content": "hard link files instead of copying\n",
"flag": "-l",
"long": "--link"
},
{
"name": "-L --dereference",
"content": "always follow symbolic links in SOURCE\n",
"flag": "-L",
"long": "--dereference"
},
{
"name": "-n --no-clobber",
"content": "do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)\n",
"flag": "-n",
"long": "--no-clobber"
},
{
"name": "-P --no-dereference",
"content": "never follow symbolic links in SOURCE\n",
"flag": "-P",
"long": "--no-dereference"
},
{
"name": "-p --preserve",
"content": "--preserve[=ATTRLIST]\npreserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible\nadditional attributes: context, links, xattr, all\n\n--no-preserve=ATTRLIST\ndon't preserve the specified attributes\n",
"flag": "-p",
"long": "--preserve"
},
{
"name": "--parents",
"content": "use full source file name under DIRECTORY\n",
"long": "--parents"
},
{
"name": "-R -r --recursive",
"content": "copy directories recursively\n\n--reflink[=WHEN]\ncontrol clone/CoW copies. See below\n",
"flag": "-r",
"long": "--recursive"
},
{
"name": "--remove-destination",
"content": "remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with\n--force)\n\n--sparse=WHEN\ncontrol creation of sparse files. See below\n",
"long": "--remove-destination"
},
{
"name": "--strip-trailing-slashes",
"content": "remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument\n",
"long": "--strip-trailing-slashes"
},
{
"name": "-s --symbolic-link",
"content": "make symbolic links instead of copying\n",
"flag": "-s",
"long": "--symbolic-link"
},
{
"name": "-S --suffix",
"content": "override the usual backup suffix\n",
"flag": "-S",
"long": "--suffix"
},
{
"name": "-t --target-directory",
"content": "copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY\n",
"flag": "-t",
"long": "--target-directory"
},
{
"name": "-T --no-target-directory",
"content": "treat DEST as a normal file\n",
"flag": "-T",
"long": "--no-target-directory"
},
{
"name": "-u --update",
"content": "copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destina‐\ntion file is missing\n",
"flag": "-u",
"long": "--update"
},
{
"name": "-v --verbose",
"content": "explain what is being done\n",
"flag": "-v",
"long": "--verbose"
},
{
"name": "-x --one-file-system",
"content": "stay on this file system\n",
"flag": "-x",
"long": "--one-file-system"
},
{
"name": "-Z",
"content": "--context[=CTX]\nlike -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX\n\n--help display this help and exit\n",
"flag": "-Z"
},
{
"name": "--version",
"content": "output version information and exit\n\nBy default, sparse SOURCE files are detected by a crude heuristic and the corresponding DEST\nfile is made sparse as well. That is the behavior selected by --sparse=auto. Specify\n--sparse=always to create a sparse DEST file whenever the SOURCE file contains a long enough\nsequence of zero bytes. Use --sparse=never to inhibit creation of sparse files.\n\nWhen --reflink[=always] is specified, perform a lightweight copy, where the data blocks are\ncopied only when modified. If this is not possible the copy fails, or if --reflink=auto is\nspecified, fall back to a standard copy. Use --reflink=never to ensure a standard copy is\nperformed.\n\nThe backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLEBACKUPSUFFIX. The version con‐\ntrol method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSIONCONTROL environ‐\nment variable. Here are the values:\n\nnone, off\nnever make backups (even if --backup is given)\n\nnumbered, t\nmake numbered backups\n\nexisting, nil\nnumbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise\n\nsimple, never\nalways make simple backups\n\nAs a special case, cp makes a backup of SOURCE when the force and backup options are given\nand SOURCE and DEST are the same name for an existing, regular file.\n",
"long": "--version"
}
]
},
"AUTHOR": {
"content": "Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.\n",
"subsections": []
},
"REPORTING BUGS": {
"content": "GNU coreutils online help: \nReport any translation bugs to \n",
"subsections": []
},
"COPYRIGHT": {
"content": "Copyright © 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later\n.\nThis is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to\nthe extent permitted by law.\n",
"subsections": []
},
"SEE ALSO": {
"content": "Full documentation \nor available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp invocation'\n\n\n\nGNU coreutils 8.32 January 2026 CP(1)",
"subsections": []
}
},
"summary": "cp - copy files and directories",
"flags": [
{
"flag": "-a",
"long": "--archive",
"arg": null,
"description": "same as -dR --preserve=all"
},
{
"flag": "",
"long": "--attributes-only",
"arg": null,
"description": "don't copy the file data, just the attributes --backup[=CONTROL] make a backup of each existing destination file"
},
{
"flag": "-b",
"long": "--backup",
"arg": null,
"description": ""
},
{
"flag": "",
"long": "--copy-contents",
"arg": null,
"description": "copy contents of special files when recursive"
},
{
"flag": "-d",
"long": "--preserve",
"arg": null,
"description": ""
},
{
"flag": "-f",
"long": "--force",
"arg": null,
"description": "if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again (this option is ignored when the -n option is also used)"
},
{
"flag": "-i",
"long": "--interactive",
"arg": null,
"description": "prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option)"
},
{
"flag": "-H",
"long": null,
"arg": null,
"description": ""
},
{
"flag": "-l",
"long": "--link",
"arg": null,
"description": "hard link files instead of copying"
},
{
"flag": "-L",
"long": "--dereference",
"arg": null,
"description": "always follow symbolic links in SOURCE"
},
{
"flag": "-n",
"long": "--no-clobber",
"arg": null,
"description": "do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)"
},
{
"flag": "-P",
"long": "--no-dereference",
"arg": null,
"description": "never follow symbolic links in SOURCE"
},
{
"flag": "-p",
"long": "--preserve",
"arg": null,
"description": "--preserve[=ATTRLIST] preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), if possible additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all --no-preserve=ATTRLIST don't preserve the specified attributes"
},
{
"flag": "",
"long": "--parents",
"arg": null,
"description": "use full source file name under DIRECTORY"
},
{
"flag": "-r",
"long": "--recursive",
"arg": null,
"description": "copy directories recursively --reflink[=WHEN] control clone/CoW copies. See below"
},
{
"flag": "",
"long": "--remove-destination",
"arg": null,
"description": "remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force) --sparse=WHEN control creation of sparse files. See below"
},
{
"flag": "",
"long": "--strip-trailing-slashes",
"arg": null,
"description": "remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument"
},
{
"flag": "-s",
"long": "--symbolic-link",
"arg": null,
"description": "make symbolic links instead of copying"
},
{
"flag": "-S",
"long": "--suffix",
"arg": null,
"description": "override the usual backup suffix"
},
{
"flag": "-t",
"long": "--target-directory",
"arg": null,
"description": "copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY"
},
{
"flag": "-T",
"long": "--no-target-directory",
"arg": null,
"description": "treat DEST as a normal file"
},
{
"flag": "-u",
"long": "--update",
"arg": null,
"description": "copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destina‐ tion file is missing"
},
{
"flag": "-v",
"long": "--verbose",
"arg": null,
"description": "explain what is being done"
},
{
"flag": "-x",
"long": "--one-file-system",
"arg": null,
"description": "stay on this file system"
},
{
"flag": "-Z",
"long": null,
"arg": null,
"description": "--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"
},
{
"flag": "",
"long": "--version",
"arg": null,
"description": "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 SIMPLEBACKUPSUFFIX. The version con‐ trol method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSIONCONTROL environ‐ ment 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."
}
],
"examples": [],
"see_also": [],
"tldr": {
"source": "official",
"description": "Copy files and directories.",
"examples": [
{
"description": "Copy a file to another location",
"command": "cp {{path/to/source_file}} {{path/to/target_file}}"
},
{
"description": "Copy a file into another directory, keeping the filename",
"command": "cp {{path/to/source_file}} {{path/to/target_parent_directory}}"
},
{
"description": "Recursively copy a directory's contents to another location (if the destination exists, the directory is copied inside it)",
"command": "cp {{-r|--recursive}} {{path/to/source_directory}} {{path/to/target_directory}}"
},
{
"description": "Copy a directory recursively, in verbose mode (shows files as they are copied)",
"command": "cp {{-vr|--verbose --recursive}} {{path/to/source_directory}} {{path/to/target_directory}}"
},
{
"description": "Copy multiple files at once to a directory",
"command": "cp {{-t|--target-directory}} {{path/to/destination_directory}} {{path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...}}"
},
{
"description": "Copy all files with a specific extension to another location, in interactive mode (prompts user before overwriting)",
"command": "cp {{-i|--interactive}} {{*.ext}} {{path/to/target_directory}}"
},
{
"description": "Follow symbolic links before copying",
"command": "cp {{-L|--dereference}} {{link}} {{path/to/target_directory}}"
},
{
"description": "Use the full path of source files, creating any missing intermediate directories when copying",
"command": "cp --parents {{source/path/to/file}} {{path/to/target_file}}"
}
]
}
}