Linux / UNIX : Move File Starting With A Dash

Move File Starting With A Dash

The syntax is as follows:

cp -- source dest
cp [option] -- source dest

We use “--” to make Linux and Unix command stop parsing shell command line options. Now, let us see some examples.

Create a test file

Type the following command:

cd /tmp/
> '-foo.txt'
> '--bar.txt'

List files starting with a dash

Try to list them, enter:

ls -l *.txt

You will get an error as follows:

ls: unrecognized option '--bar.txt'
Try `ls --help' for more information.

To delimit the option list use -- i.e. type the following ls command:

ls -l -- *.txt

The cp and mv commands

When a file whose name begins with - or --, copy or move files using the following syntax:

cp -- '--bar.txt' /path/to/dest
cp -- '-test.doc' /home/vivek/backups/test.doc

OR

cp -v -- '--bar.txt' /path/to/dest

To move files:

mv -- '--bar.txt' /path/to/dest

OR

mv -v -- '--bar.txt' /path/to/dest

Unix and Linux copy file starting with a dash

The - or -- considered as part of command line options. Therefore, you can not copy, list, delete or move any files starting with those characters. In short, the syntax is as follows:

cp options -- '--filename' /dest
mv options -- '--filename' /dest

The -- delimit the option list. Later arguments, if any, are treated a operands even if they begin with - or —. This applies to all Linux/Unix/macOS/*BSD commands such as rm, cp, mv, ls, ln and so on:

 command -- 'file'
command [options] -- 'file'
rm -- '--filename'
rm -fr -- '-dirname'
rmdir -- '--dirname'

How to use find command for same purpose

The syntax is:
find /dir/to/search -maxdepth 1 -name '--filename' -delete
See GNU find man page here.

Tip: Handling a filename starting with a dash (-)

You can “hide” the dash from the command by starting the filename with ./ (dot slash). For example, try to remove a file named “-filename.txt” using rm command:

> '-filename'
rm -filename # will get an error #
rm ./-filename

Conclusion

The -- is technically known as delimiting the options list. Later arguments, if any, are treated as operands even if they begin with - and syntax is:
command -- -foo
command -- -bar
command -arg1 -option2 -- -foobar
## sort will reads from the file named '-filename' ##
sort -- -filename
## grep command will find matching string named '--dom' ##
virsh --help | grep --color -- '--dom'

This page explained how to handle a Linux or Unix filename starting with a dash (-). The trick is to either start the filename with ./ or pass the -- before filename.