Linux Move File
The mv command in Linux is a versatile utility used for both moving files and directories from one location to another, and for renaming them. It's a fundamental command for organizing your filesystem.
Syntax
mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
Description
When moving files or directories, mv effectively changes their location on the filesystem. When renaming, it changes the name of a file or directory within the same location. Unlike copying (cp), mv does not create a new copy of the data; it simply updates the filesystem's pointers to the data.
Common uses include:
- Moving files to a different directory.
- Renaming files or directories.
- Consolidating files from multiple locations.
- Preventing accidental overwrites.
Common Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-i, --interactive |
Prompt before overwrite. |
-f, --force |
Do not prompt before overwriting. |
-n, --no-clobber |
Do not overwrite an existing 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. |
Examples
Move a file to a directory
Moves myfile.txt from the current directory to /home/user/documents/.
Rename a file
Renames oldname.txt to newname.txt in the same directory.
Move and rename a directory
Moves old_dir to /new_location/ and renames it to new_dir_name.
Move multiple files to a directory
Moves file1.txt, file2.txt, and file3.txt into the /backup/data/ directory.
Prevent overwriting existing files
Moves report.pdf to /archive/ only if a file named report.pdf does not already exist there.