mv source_file target_file

mv source_file ... target_directory

mv source_directory ... target_directory

target_file can be a file name, a directory (in this case the file will be moved to another directory), or a directory/file name (in this case the file will be moved to another directory and renamed).

Moving a directory will move the directory and all its contents.

When moving files and directories, the inode number and timestamp of these files and directories are not changed.

• Moving file:
  
  • Move file1 from folder1 to folder2 (see below the options -i and -n to check if the destination file already exists).
    

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

  • Move file1 from folder1 to folder2 (renaming file1 to file2):

    $ mv folder1/file1 folder2/file2
    

• Renaming file:
  

  $ mv file1 file2
  

• Moving directory:
  

  $ mv folder1/ folder3/
  

• Renaming directory:
  

  $ mv folder1 folder3
  

• You can use both cp and rm commands to move files.
  First copy file1 from folder1 to folder2 and then delete file1 in folder1:
  

  $ cp folder1/file1 folder2/ && rm folder1/file1
  

The following options can be used:

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

-f Do not prompt for confirmation before overwriting the destination path.
   (The -f option overrides any previous -i or -n options.)

-i Cause mv to write a prompt to standard error before moving a file that would overwrite an existing file.
   If the response from the standard input begins with the character 'y' or 'Y', the move is attempted.
   (The -i option overrides any previous -f or -n options.)

-v Cause mv to be verbose, showing files after they are moved.