Provided by: coreutils_9.4-3ubuntu6_amd64 bug

NAME

       cp - copy files and directories

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

       --debug
              explain how a file is copied.  Implies -v

       -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 and do not fail (overrides a -u or previous -i option). See also
              --update; equivalent to --update=none.

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

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

       --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
              preserve the specified attributes

       --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

       --update[=UPDATE]
              control which existing files are updated; UPDATE={all,none,older(default)}.  See below

       -u     equivalent to --update[=older]

       -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

       ATTR_LIST  is  a comma-separated list of attributes. Attributes are 'mode' for permissions (including any
       ACL and xattr permissions), 'ownership' for user and group, 'timestamps' for file timestamps, 'links' for
       hard  links,  'context'  for  security  context,  'xattr'  for  extended  attributes,  and  'all' for all
       attributes.

       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.

       UPDATE  controls  which  existing  files in the destination are replaced.  'all' is the default operation
       when an --update option is not specified, and results in all existing  files  in  the  destination  being
       replaced.   'none'  is  similar  to  the  --no-clobber  option,  in  that no files in the destination are
       replaced, but also skipped files do not induce a failure.  'older' is the default operation when --update
       is specified, and results in files being replaced if they're older than the corresponding source file.

       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.

AUTHOR

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

REPORTING BUGS

       GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
       Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright  ©  2023  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.

SEE ALSO

       install(1)

       Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cp>
       or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cp invocation'