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mv(1) move (rename) files
mv(1P, 1p) move files

MV(1) User Commands MV(1)

mv - move (rename) files

mv [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
mv [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

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

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

make a backup of each existing destination file
like --backup but does not accept an argument
explain how a file is copied. Implies -v
do not prompt before overwriting
prompt before overwrite
do not overwrite an existing file

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

do not copy if renaming fails
remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
override the usual backup suffix
move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
treat DEST as a normal file
control which existing files are updated; UPDATE={all,none,older(default)}. See below
equivalent to --update[=older]
explain what is being done
set SELinux security context of destination file to default type
display this help and exit
output version information and exit

UPDATE controls which existing files in the destination are replaced. 'all' is the default operation when an --update option is not specified, and results in all existing files in the destination being replaced. 'none' is similar to the --no-clobber option, in that no files in the destination are replaced, but also skipped files do not induce a failure. 'older' is the default operation when --update is specified, and results in files being replaced if they're older than the corresponding source file.

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:

never make backups (even if --backup is given)
make numbered backups
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
always make simple backups

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

GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
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Copyright © 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://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.

rename(2)

Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mv>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mv invocation'

February 2024 GNU coreutils 9.4