NAME

       cp - manual page for cp 9.1

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 -dR --preserve=all

       --attributes-only
              don't copy the file data, just the attributes

       --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 (this
              option is ignored when the -n option is also used)

       -i, --interactive
              prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option)

       -H     follow command-line symbolic links in SOURCE

       -l, --link
              hard link files instead of copying

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

       -n, --no-clobber
              do not overwrite an existing file (overrides a previous -i option)

       -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,ownership,timestamps), if possible
              additional attributes: context, links, xattr, all

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

       --parents
              use full source file name under DIRECTORY

       -R, -r, --recursive
              copy directories recursively

       --reflink[=WHEN]
              control clone/CoW copies. See below

       --remove-destination
              remove  each  existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with
              --force)

       --sparse=WHEN
              control creation of sparse files. See below

       --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

       -Z     set SELinux security context of destination file to default type

       --context[=CTX]
              like  -Z,  or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to
              CTX

       --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 behavior 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.

       When --reflink[=always] is specified, perform a lightweight copy, where  the  data  blocks
       are  copied  only  when  modified.   If  this  is  not  possible  the  copy  fails,  or if
       --reflink=auto is specified, fall back to a standard copy.  Use --reflink=never to  ensure
       a standard copy is performed.

       The  backup  suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_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

       As a special case, cp makes a backup of SOURCE when the force and backup options are given
       and SOURCE and DEST are the same name for an existing, regular file.

       GNU  coreutils   online   help:   <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>   Report   any
       translation    bugs    to    <https://translationproject.org/team/>   Full   documentation
       <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cp> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp
       invocation'

AUTHOR

       Written by Torbjorn Granlund, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright  ©  2022  Free  Software  Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or
       later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO  WARRANTY,
       to the extent permitted by law.