How to Copy a File in Bash: Simple Command and Examples

To copy a file in bash, use the cp command followed by the source file and the destination path. For example, cp source.txt destination.txt copies the file named source.txt to destination.txt.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the copy command in bash is:

• cp [options] source_file destination

Here, source_file is the file you want to copy, and destination is the new file name or directory where you want to copy the file.

Options can modify the behavior, like -i to ask before overwriting.

bash

cp source_file destination

Example

This example copies a file named notes.txt to a new file named backup_notes.txt in the same directory.

bash

cp notes.txt backup_notes.txt
ls -l backup_notes.txt

Output

-rw-r--r-- 1 user user 1234 Apr 27 12:00 backup_notes.txt

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when copying files include:

• Forgetting to specify the destination file or directory, which causes an error.
• Overwriting files without warning if -i option is not used.
• Copying directories without -r option, which is required for recursive copy.

Always check if the destination exists to avoid accidental data loss.

bash

cp source.txt destination.txt  # Correct usage

cp source.txt  # Wrong: missing destination

cp -i source.txt destination.txt  # Safer copy with prompt before overwrite

Quick Reference

Command	Description
cp source.txt destination.txt	Copy file to new file or location
cp -i source.txt destination.txt	Copy with prompt before overwrite
cp -r dir1 dir2	Copy directory recursively
cp -v source.txt destination.txt	Copy with verbose output

Key Takeaways

Use the cp command followed by source and destination to copy files in bash.

Add -i option to avoid overwriting files without warning.

Use -r option to copy directories recursively.

Always specify both source and destination to avoid errors.

Check the copied file exists with ls after copying.