Linux cp Command
Copying with cp: recursive copies, preserving attributes, avoiding accidental overwrites, and the trailing-slash trap that catches everyone once.
Formula
cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DESTINATION
How to use it
- The synopsis at the top shows the general form of the command.
- Click any example to copy it straight to your clipboard.
- The options table lists only the flags worth remembering — run man for the exhaustive list.
Examples
| cp file.txt backup.txt | copy a single file |
| cp -r src/ dest/ | copy a directory and everything in it |
| cp -a src/. dest/ | copy contents, preserving all attributes |
Questions people ask
What is the difference between cp -r and cp -a?
-r recurses but resets ownership and timestamps to the copying user and now. -a recurses and preserves them, which is what you want for backups.
How do I stop cp overwriting things?
-n skips existing files silently, -i asks first. Neither is the default, so a plain cp will overwrite without warning.
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Last updated 22 August 2026