How to copy file with different name?

Copying Files with Different Names in Linux

In the Linux operating system, you can easily copy a file and give it a different name using the cp command. This is a common task that you might need to perform for various reasons, such as creating a backup of a file, duplicating a file for testing purposes, or simply renaming a file.

The cp Command

The basic syntax for the cp command to copy a file with a different name is:

cp source_file destination_file

Here, source_file is the name of the file you want to copy, and destination_file is the new name you want to give to the copied file.

For example, let's say you have a file named document.txt and you want to create a copy of it with the name backup.txt. You can use the following command:

cp document.txt backup.txt

This will create a new file named backup.txt that is an exact copy of document.txt.

Copying Files with Different Names: Step-by-Step

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to copy a file with a different name in Linux:

1. Identify the file you want to copy: Determine the name and location of the file you want to copy.

2. Decide on the new name: Choose the new name you want to give to the copied file.

3. Use the cp command: Open a terminal or command prompt and enter the following command:

   cp source_file destination_file

   Replace source_file with the name and location of the file you want to copy, and destination_file with the new name you want to give to the copied file.

4. Verify the copy: After running the command, you can check the directory to ensure that the new file has been created with the desired name.

Here's an example using the files from the earlier example:

# Copy document.txt to backup.txt
cp document.txt backup.txt

# Verify the new file
ls -l
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user 1234 Apr 15 12:34 backup.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user 1234 Apr 14 10:23 document.txt

As you can see, the cp command has successfully created a new file named backup.txt that is a copy of the original document.txt file.

Copying Files with Different Names: Visualization

Here's a Mermaid diagram that visualizes the process of copying a file with a different name:

The diagram shows that the cp command takes the source file as input and creates a new file with the specified destination name. The final step is to verify the new file in the directory.

By using the cp command and following the steps outlined above, you can easily copy files with different names in the Linux operating system. This is a fundamental skill that can be helpful in various file management tasks.