cp - Linux Man Page

SYNOPSIS
      cp [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
      cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
      cp [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION
      Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

      Mandatory  arguments  to  long  options are mandatory for short options
      too.

      -a, --archive
             same as -dpR

      --backup[=CONTROL]
             make a backup of each existing destination file

      -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument

      --copy-contents
             copy contents of special files when recursive

      -d     same as --no-dereference --preserve=links

      -f, --force
             if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it  and
             try again

      -i, --interactive
             prompt before overwrite

      -H     follow command-line symbolic links in SOURCE

      -l, --link
             link files instead of copying

      -L, --dereference
             always follow symbolic links in SOURCE

      -P, --no-dereference
             never follow symbolic links in SOURCE

      -p     same as --preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps

      --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
             preserve   the   specified   attributes   (default:  mode,owner-
             ship,timestamps), if possible  additional  attributes:  context,
             links, all

      --no-preserve=ATTR_LIST
             don't preserve the specified attributes

      --parents
      --strip-trailing-slashes
             remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument

      -s, --symbolic-link
             make symbolic links instead of copying

      -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
             override the usual backup suffix

      -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
             copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

      -T, --no-target-directory
             treat DEST as a normal file

      -u, --update
             copy only when the SOURCE file is  newer  than  the  destination
             file or when the destination file is missing

      -v, --verbose
             explain what is being done

      -x, --one-file-system
             stay on this file system

      --help display this help and exit

      --version
             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 behav-
      ior  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.

      The  backup  suffix  is  `~',  unless  set  with   --suffix   or   SIM-
      PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.   The version control method may be selected via the
      --backup option or through the  VERSION_CONTROL  environment  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

      GPL version 3 or later 
      This is free software: you are free  to  change  and  redistribute  it.
      There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.