What are common pitfalls with cp command usage?

The cp command in Linux is a powerful tool for copying files and directories, but there are several common pitfalls that users may encounter. Understanding these can help prevent errors and data loss.

Common Pitfalls with cp Command Usage

• Overwriting Files: By default, cp will overwrite existing files without warning unless used with the -i (interactive) flag. This can lead to accidental data loss.
• Copying Directories: The command does not copy directories unless used with the -r (recursive) option. This can confuse users who wish to duplicate an entire folder structure.
• Missing File Permissions: Not having appropriate permissions to copy files can lead to errors. Users should ensure they have adequate permissions or use sudo if necessary.
• Use of Wildcards: Wildcards can lead to unintentional copying of more files than expected, especially in combination with the -r option.
• Not Verifying Copy Success: Users often forget to check if the copy operation was successful. This can lead to assumptions made on incomplete or failed copies.

Example of cp Command Usage

Here’s a basic example of how to properly use the cp command:

In this example, the user is prompted for confirmation before overwriting destination.txt if it already exists.