I need to create a full copy of a directory in Unix/Linux, including all its subdirectories and files. What’s the correct way to use the copy directory Linux approach to recursively duplicate everything from one location to another?
I’m looking for a simple and reliable command, any common cp options or better alternatives are welcome!
I’ve been working with Linux systems for years, and when it comes to figuring out how to copy directory linux style, the simplest and most reliable method is using cp -r. It’ll grab everything inside your folder, including nested files and subdirectories:
cp -r /source/directory /destination/
But if you want to keep file permissions, timestamps, and other attributes intact, it’s even better to use archive mode with the -a flag:
cp -a /source/directory /destination/
This is my go-to for local copies because it’s fast and installed by default on pretty much every Linux distro.
Totally agree with @dimplesaini.230 on using cp for basic stuff. But from my experience managing larger systems, especially when dealing with big folders or repeating syncs, I’ve found rsync to be a lifesaver for copy directory linux tasks.
It’s not only fast but also super efficient at handling incremental changes and preserving permissions:
rsync -av /source/directory/ /destination/directory/
A quick tip: those trailing slashes matter! Without them, you might accidentally nest your entire source folder inside the destination instead of just copying the contents. Plus, rsync shows progress and handles large datasets better than cp.
@dimplesaini.230 and @mark-mazay both bring solid points for copy directory linux approaches. But if you’re dealing with backups or moving data across different systems or storage media, I’ve often relied on tar for the job.
It’s perfect for capturing everything permissions, symlinks, and even special files into a single stream you can unpack anywhere:
tar czf - /source/directory | tar xzf - -C /destination/
This technique is especially handy if you’re copying directories between different filesystems or across the network. It basically clones your folder structure in one swoop, making it a great alternative when you want precision.