cp source_file target_file

cp source_file ... target_directory

scp source_file {USER_NAME}@{HOST_NAME}:target_directory

scp {USER_NAME}@{HOST_NAME}:source_file target_directory

• Copying file:
  
  
  • Create a new copy of file1 and rename it to file2 (see below the options -i and -n to check if the destination file already exists):

    $ cp file1 file2
    

  • Copy file1 from folder1 to folder2 (it's recommended to use a trailing forward slash to be explicit about the destination directory).
    

    $ cp folder1/file1 folder2/
    
    # Optionally you can also specify the file name to be used for the destination folder
    $ cp folder1/file1 folder2/file1
    

  • Copy file1 (renaming it to file2) from folder1 to folder2:

    $ cp folder1/file1 folder2/file2
    

  • Copy all files (excluding subdirectories and files starting with a period (.)) in folder1 to folder2:
    

    $ cp folder1/* folder2/
    

    It may complain that there are subdirectories in folder1 "cp: omitting directory ...".
    
    
  • Copy all files starting with a period (.) (excluding subdirectories) in folder1 to folder2:
    

    $ cp folder1/.* folder2/
    

    It may complain that there are subdirectories in folder1 "cp: omitting directory ...".
    
    
• Copying directory:
  
  
  • Copy the directory folder1 into folder2:

    cp -R folder1 folder2/
    

  • Copy the content (files and subdirectories) of the directory folder1 to folder2:

    cp -R folder1/ folder2/
    

  • Copy the content (files and subdirectories excluding files starting with a period (.)) of the directory folder1 to folder2:

    cp -R folder1/* folder2/
    

• Secure-copying file/directory:
  
  
  • Copy a remote file to a local directory:

    $ scp user1@my-remote-host.com:/folder1/folder2/index.php ~/
    

  • Copy a remote directory to a local directory:

    $ scp -r user1@my-remote-host.com:/folder1/folder2/ ~/
    

  • Copy a local file to a remote directory:

    $ scp ~/file1 user1@my-remote-host.com:/folder1/folder2/
    

  • Copy a local directory to a remote directory:

    $ scp -r ~/folder user1@my-remote-host.com:/folder1/folder2/
    

-R
|If source_file designates a directory, the directory will be copied with all its files and sub-directories.
|If the source_file ends in a /, the contents of the directory are copied rather than the directory itself.
|Created directories have the same mode as the corresponding source directory, unmodified by the "umask" of the process.
|cp will continue copying even if errors are detected.

-n
|Do not overwrite an existing file.
|The -n option overrides any previous -f or -i options.

-f
|If the destination file cannot be opened, remove it and create a new file, without prompting for confirmation.
|The target file is not unlinked before the copy.
|Thus, any existing access rights will be retained.
|The -f option overrides any previous -n option.

-i
|Cause cp to write a prompt to the standard error output before copying a file that would overwrite an existing file.
|If the response from the standard input begins with the character `y' or `Y', the file copy is attempted.
|The -i option overrides any previous -n option.

-v
|Cause cp to be verbose, showing files as they are copied.