UNIX® Shells by Example, Third Edition

cp—copies files

cp [ –i ] [ –p ] [ –r ] [ filename ... ] target

The cp command copies filename to another target, which is either a file or directory. The filename and target cannot have the same name. If the target is not a directory, only one file may be specified before it; if it is a directory, more than one file may be specified. If target does not exist, cp creates a file named target. If target exists and is not a directory, its contents are overwritten. If target is a directory, the file(s) are copied to that directory.

Example A.12.

1 cp file1 file2 2 cp chapter1 book 3 cp -r desktop /usr/bin/tester

EXPLANATION Copies the contents of file1 to file2. Copies the contents of chapter1 to the book directory. In the book directory, chapter1 ...