command terminal Linux Commands MOC

The cp command is short for ‘copy’ and can copy a file to a new location without modifying the original.

Usage

cp <file to copy> <name of new copy>

$ ls
myfile
$ cp myfile mycopiedfile
$ ls
mycopiedfile myfile

The full path of the file can also be given instead of just the name.

Copy Folders

Copying folders requires the -r or -R flag, meaning ‘recursive’.

$ ls
myfolder
$ cp myfolder mycopiedfolder
cp: -r not specified; omitting directory 'myfolder'
$ cp -r myfolder mycopiedfolder
$ ls
mycopiedfolder myfolder