Another use for the cp command is copying entire directories. When combined with the -r (recursive) option the cp command can be used to copy a directory and all of its' contents to another directory. Without the -r option, the files and subdirectories contained within a directory are not copied.

Note: You will receive an error message if the -r option is not used when copying a populated directory.

Command Format

cp -r [i] source_directory(s) destination_directory

Examples

The following is an example of how to copy a directory and all of its files to a new directory name in the current directory:

$ cd
$ pwd
/home/chuck
$ cp -r Pig_Pen muddy.puddles
$ ls muddy.puddles
Dirt
$

The following is an example of how to copy a directory to another directory that is not in the current directory

$ pwd
/home/chuck
$ ls -F
Pig_Pen/
$ cp -r Pig_Pen /home/Lucy
$ ls -F /home/Lucy
Snoopy/ dog.bowls/
Pig_Pen/
$