NAME
     cp - copy files

SYNOPSIS
     cp [ -ip ] filename1 filename2
     cp -rR [ -ip ] directory1 directory2
     cp [ -iprR ] filename ...  directory

DESCRIPTION
     cp copies the contents of  filename1  onto  filename2.   The
     mode  and  owner  of  filename2  are preserved if it already
     existed; the mode of the source file is used otherwise.   If
     filename1  is a symbolic link, or a duplicate hard link, the
     contents of the file that the link  refers  to  are  copied;
     links are not preserved.

     In the second form, cp recursively copies directory1,  along
     with  its  contents  and  subdirectories, to directory2.  If
     directory2 does not exist, cp creates it and duplicates  the
     files and subdirectories of directory1 within it.  If direc-
     tory2 does exist, cp makes a copy of the  directory1  direc-
     tory  within  directory2 (as a subdirectory), along with its
     files and subdirectories.

     In the third form, each filename is copied to the  indicated
     directory;  the  basename of the copy corresponds to that of
     the original.  The destination directory must already  exist
     for the copy to succeed.

     cp refuses to copy a file onto itself.

OPTIONS
     -i   Interactive.  Prompt for confirmation whenever the copy
          would  overwrite  an existing file.  A y in answer con-
          firms that the copy should proceed.  Any  other  answer
          prevents cp from overwriting the file.

     -p   Preserve.  Duplicate not only the contents of the  ori-
          ginal file or directory, but also the modification time
          and permission modes.

     -r
     -R   Recursive.  If any of the source files are directories,
          copy  the directory along with its files (including any
          subdirectories and their files); the  destination  must
          be a directory.

EXAMPLES
     To copy a file:
          example% cp goodies goodies.old
          example% ls goodies*
          goodies goodies.old

     To copy a directory, first to a new, and then to an existing
     destination directory:

          example% ls ~/bkup
          /usr/example/fred/bkup not found
          example% cp -r ~/src ~/bkup
          example% ls -R ~/bkup
          x.c y.c z.sh
          example% cp -r ~/src ~/bkup
          example% ls -R ~/bkup
          src x.c y.c z.sh

          src:
          x.c y.c z.sh

     To copy a list of files to a destination directory:
          example% cp ~/src/*   /tmp

SEE ALSO
     cat(1V), ln(1V), mv(1), pr(1V), rcp(1C), tar(1)

WARNINGS
     Beware of a recursive copy like this:

          example% cp -r ~/src ~/src/bkup

     which keeps copying files until it  fills  the  entire  file
     system.

BUGS
     cp copies the contents  of  files  pointed  to  by  symbolic
     links.  It does not copy the symbolic link itself.  This can
     lead  to  inconsistencies  when  directory  hierarchies  are
     replicated.   Filenames  that  were  linked  in the original
     hierarchy are no longer linked in the replica.  This is also
     true  for  files  with  multiple hard links.  See ln(1V) for
     details about  symbolic  links  and  hard  links.   You  can
     preserve  links in replicated hierarchies by using tar(1) to
     copy them.