How To Copy Directory Linux [4 Best Methods]

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Akshat

Last updated: June 25, 2024

Expert verified

Copying directories in Linux can seem tricky, but it’s a task you’ll often need to handle. Whether you’re backing up data, moving to a new system, or organizing files, knowing the right commands and methods makes it much easier. In this post, I’ll guide you through using the cp command to copy directories, along with other powerful tools like rsync and tar. You’ll also learn best practices to avoid data loss and ensure your copies are accurate. By the end, you’ll feel confident managing your directories in Linux.

Common cp Command Options and Examples

How To Copy Directory Linux Using cp Command?

That was the quick answer, for a more detailed one, here are 7 ways to Linux copy directory.

1. Basic Copying of a Directory

To copy a directory, including all its files and subdirectories, you need to use the -r (recursive) option. Follow these steps to Linux cp directory:

1. Access your Linux terminal by using a shortcut, Ctrl+Alt+T.

2. To copy folder Linux, including all its contents, enter the following command:

cp -r source_directory_path destination_directory_path

This command recursively copies the directory and all its contents to a new location. -r tells cp to copy directories recursively.

2. Preserving File Attributes

If you also want to preserve the attributes (such as permissions, timestamps, and ownership), add the -p flag:

cp -rp source_directory_path destination_directory_path

This command ensures that the copied directory retains its original attributes.

4. Ensure the directory has been copied as expected by listing the contents of the destination directory:

ls destination_directory_path

The output will be:

3. Copying Multiple Directories

You can copy multiple directories at once by specifying them in the command.

cp -r directory1 directory2 directory3 destination_directory/

This will copy directory1 directory2 directory3 into destination_directory. Replace the directory with the names of your desired directories.

4. Verbose Output

For detailed output showing the progress of the copy operation, use the -v (verbose) option.

sudo cp -rv /path_to_source_directory /destination_directory

• -v: Show verbose output.

This option is useful for tracking the files as they are being copied.

5. Excluding Specific Files or Directories

To exclude certain files or directories while copying, use the –exclude option.

rsync -av --exclude 'pattern' source_directory/ destination_directory/

Replace pattern with the actual pattern that you want to exclude.

• –exclude ‘pattern’: Exclude files or directories matching the pattern.

Note: rsync is used here because cp does not have an exclude option. However, this method achieves the desired result.

6. Overwriting Existing Files

By default, cp will overwrite existing files in the destination. If you want to avoid this, use the -n (no-clobber) option.

cp -rn source_directory destination_directory

• -n: Do not overwrite existing files.

This is useful when you want to ensure that existing files in the destination are not replaced.

7. Updating Only Changed Files

To copy only the files that have changed or are new, use the -u (update) option.

cp -ru source_directory destination_directory

• -u: Copy only when the source file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing.

This option is efficient for incremental updates.

How to Copy Directory in Linux Using Other Methods

While the cp command is a powerful and widely-used tool for copying directories in Linux, there are several other methods that can be more efficient or provide additional features. These methods include using rsync, tar, and graphical user interface (GUI) tools. Each of these methods offers unique advantages, whether it’s for syncing large directories, preserving file attributes, or providing a more user-friendly experience.

Below, I’ll explore these methods in detail.

1. rsync Command

rsync is a utility for efficiently transferring and synchronizing files across computer systems, using a delta transfer algorithm. It’s particularly useful for copying large directories or for incremental backups. Here is the step-by-step guide:

1. Access your Terminal window and copy a directory to another location, by running the command:

rsync -av source_directory_path/ destination_directory_path/

-a enables archive mode to preserve permissions, timestamps, and other attributes.

-v increases verbosity to show the files being copied.

2. Check the destination directory to ensure the copy operation was successful:

ls destination_directory_path

The output will look like this:

2. tar Command

The tar command is traditionally used for creating archives. Interestingly, it can also be used to copy directories by archiving a directory then immediately extracting it to a new location, making it a handy tool for preserving file permissions and attributes. Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Terminal.
2. Execute the following command:

tar -cvf - source_directory_path | tar -xvf - -C destination_directory_path

The first tar -cvf – source_directory_path creates an archive and outputs it to stdout.

The second part, tar -xvf – -C destination_directory_path, reads from stdin to extract the archive to the destination directory.

3. Use the ls command to check the contents of the destination directory.

3. Using GUI Tools to Copy Directories

Graphical File Managers in Linux, provide a user-friendly way to manage files and directories, including copying them through a graphical interface. Follow these steps:

1. Locate the directory you wish to copy.
2. Right-click the directory and select Copy or use the keyboard shortcut, usually Ctrl+C.

3. Open the location where you want to copy the directory.
4. Right-click in the destination location and select Paste or use the keyboard shortcut, usually Ctrl+V.

5. The directory should now appear in the destination location.

Best Practices for Copying Directories

When working with Linux, copying directories is a common task that requires careful attention to detail to avoid data loss and ensure data integrity. Following best practices helps you perform these operations safely and effectively.

🛡️ Tips to Avoid Data Loss

Double-check source and destination paths before copying to prevent mistakes. Use the -i (interactive) option with the cp command to prompt before overwriting files (cp -ri /source_directory /destination_directory). Avoid using root privileges unless necessary, and test the command with a small set of files before copying large amounts of data.

• Backing Up a Directory: Use rsync to back up a directory while preserving file attributes (rsync -av /source_directory /backup_directory).

🔄 Importance of Regular Backups

Regular backups protect your data from accidental deletion, hardware failures, and other issues. Schedule daily, weekly, or monthly backups based on how often your data changes. Use tools like rsync or set up cron jobs to automate backups.

• Automating Backups with cron: Schedule backups with a cron job to run daily at 2 AM (0 2 * * * rsync -av /source_directory /backup_directory). Add this line to your crontab with crontab -e.

🔍 Using Checksums to Verify Data Integrity

Checksums are unique strings that verify file integrity. Use tools like md5sum and sha256sum to generate and check these strings. For example, generate a checksum with md5sum /source_directory/file > file.md5 and verify it with md5sum -c file.md5 to ensure files haven’t changed during copying.

• Verifying Data Integrity After Copy: Generate checksums for the source directory with find /source_directory -type f -exec md5sum {} \; > checksums.md5, then verify in the destination directory with md5sum -c checksums.md5.

Linux Copy Folder: In a Nutshell

In this article, I’ve explored different methods for copying a directory in Linux, focusing on the cp command and alternatives like rsync, tar, and GUI tools.

To learn more, I recommend:

• Discovering how to set and remove special file permissions in Linux, which helps you manage file access rights effectively.
• Learning methods to list files recursively in Linux, enhancing your ability to view and manage files within directories comprehensively.
• Exploring ways to list only directories in Linux, streamlining your directory management and making it easier to navigate and organize your file system.

Frequently Asked Questions