What does the -i option do in the cp command?

The -i option (or --interactive) in the cp command prompts the user for confirmation before overwriting an existing file at the destination.

Purpose:

• Prevent Accidental Overwrites: This option helps avoid unintentional data loss by asking the user whether they want to proceed with the overwrite.

Example Usage:

cp -i source_file.txt destination_file.txt

If destination_file.txt already exists, the terminal will display a prompt like:

cp: overwrite 'destination_file.txt'? 

You can then respond with y (yes) to overwrite or n (no) to skip the copy.

If you have any further questions or need more details, feel free to ask!