Linux Copy File Command ( cp command examples )

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: May 29, 2008]

Q. How do I copy file under Linux? How do I make 2nd copy of a file?

A. To copy files and directories use cp command under Linux, UNIX, and BSD operating systems. cp is the command entered in a Unix shell to copy a file from one place to another, possibly on a different filesystem. The original file remains unchanged, and the new file may have the same or a different name.

To make a copy of a file in the current directory, enter:
$ cp file.doc file.doc.bak

To copy a file in your current directory into another directory, enter:
$ cp filename /tmp $ ls /tmp/filename $ cd /tmp $ ls $ rm filename

To copy a file to a new file and preserve the modification date, time, and access control list associated with the source file, enter:
$ cp -p filename /path/to/new/location/myfile

To copy all the files in a directory to a new directory, enter:
$ cp * /home/tom/backup

To copy a directory, including all its files and subdirectories, to another directory, enter (copy directories recursively):
$ cp -R * /home/tom/backup

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