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Linux-Ubuntu | mv -- move files/directories
  1. Notes
  2. Examples
  3. Command Help (man mv)

  1. Notes
    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.
  2. Examples
    • Moving file:
      • Move file1 from folder1 to folder2 (see bellow 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
  3. Command Help (man mv)
    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.
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