Linux manual pages Section 1  

Name

mv — move (rename) files

Synopsis

mv [OPTION...] [−T] SOURCE DEST

mv [OPTION...] SOURCE... DIRECTORY

mv [OPTION...] −t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION

Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

−−backup[=CONTROL]

make a backup of each existing destination file

−b

like −−backup but does not accept an argument

−f, −−force

do not prompt before overwriting

−i, −−interactive

prompt before overwrite

−n, −−no−clobber

do not overwrite an existing file

If you specify more than one of −i, −f, −n, only the final one takes effect.

−−strip−trailing−slashes

remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument

−S, −−suffix=SUFFIX

override the usual backup suffix

−t, −−target−directory=DIRECTORY

move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

−T, −−no−target−directory

treat DEST as a normal file

−u, −−update

move only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing

−v, −−verbose

explain what is being done

−Z, −−context

set SELinux security context of destination file to default type

−−help

display this help and exit

−−version

output version information and exit

The backup suffix is '~', unless set with −−suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the −−backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values:

none, off

never make backups (even if −−backup is given)

numbered, t

make numbered backups

existing, nil

numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise

simple, never

always make simple backups

GNU coreutils online help: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report mv translation bugs to <http://translationproject.org/team/>

AUTHOR

Written by Mike Parker, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

SEE ALSO

rename(2)

The full documentation for mv is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and mv programs are properly installed at your site, the command

  • info coreutils 'mv invocation'

should give you access to the complete manual.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.

This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.