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Copy a directory with its contents

cautionFilesystemalle

Caution: This command changes the system. Understand what it does before you run it.

Adjust the values, the command updates live
user@server
cp -a -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/mytheme /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/mytheme-copy

Copies the directory including its contents. -a means archive mode: recursive, with permissions, owner, timestamps and symlinks kept as links. If ZIEL does not exist yet, it is created as the copy.

Note: If ZIEL already exists, the copy ends up as a subfolder inside it. To copy only the contents, use QUELLE/. as the source.

Also searched as

  • copy a folder in linux
  • copy directory recursively
  • duplicate a folder with all subfolders
  • copy a theme folder

Related one-liners

All in Filesystem

Copy a file

$cp -ip -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/.htaccess /var/www/vhosts/example.com/private/htaccess-copy
cautionFilesystem

Create a dated backup copy of a file

$cp -p -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/.htaccess /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/.htaccess.bak-$(date +%F-%H%M)
cautionFilesystem

Create a directory including parent folders

$mkdir -p -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/private/backups/2026
cautionFilesystem

Create or repoint a symbolic link

$ln -sfn -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/releases/2026-10-10 /var/www/vhosts/example.com/current
cautionFilesystem

Delete a directory with all its contents

$rm -rI -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/old
destructiveFilesystem

List directory contents with permissions and sizes

$ls -lAh --group-directories-first -- /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs
harmlessFilesystem

Read first, then run.

The commands on myline.de act directly on servers, files and databases. A wrong path or placeholder can delete data irreversibly or make a server unreachable.

  • All commands are provided without warranty and are not tested on every system.
  • Understand what a command does before running it, and check every placeholder.
  • Make a backup first and, if possible, try it on a test system.
  • You run commands at your own risk. Liability for damages is excluded to the extent permitted by law.