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mv - move or rename files
mv [ - ] [ -fi ] filename1 filename2
mv [ - ] [ -fi ] directory1 directory2
mv [ - ] [ -fi ] filename ... directory
mv moves files and directories around in the file system. A
side effect of mv is to rename a file or directory. The
three major forms of mv are shown in the synopsis above.
The first form of mv moves (changes the name of) filename1
to filename2. If filename2 already exists, it is removed
before filename1 is moved. If filename2 has a mode which
forbids writing, mv prints the mode (see chmod(2V)) and
reads the standard input to obtain a line; if the line
begins with y, the move takes place, otherwise mv exits.
The second form of mv moves (changes the name of) directory1
to directory2, only if directory2 does not already exist if
it does, the third form applies.
The third form of mv moves one or more filenames (may also
be directories) with their original names, into the last
directory in the list.
mv refuses to move a file or directory onto itself.
- -
- Interpret all the following arguments to mv as file
names. This allows file names starting with minus.
- -f
- Force. Override any mode restrictions and the -i
option. The -f option also suppresses any warning messages
about modes which would potentially restrict
overwriting.
- -i
- Interactive mode. mv displays the name of the file or
directory followed by a question mark whenever a move
would replace an existing file or directory. If you
type a line starting with y, mv moves the specified
file or directory, otherwise mv does nothing with that
file or directory.
cp(1), ln(1V), chmod(2V), rename(2V)
mv: pathname: rename: Permission denied
Attempted to move pathname into a directory that
did not have write permission.
If filename1 and filename2 are on different file systems,
then mv must copy the file and delete the original. In this
case the owner name becomes that of the copying process and
any linking relationship with other files is lost.
Modification times may be different than expected when mv
must copy the file's data, rather than simply updating a
directory entry.
mv will not move a directory from one file system to
another. Use cp(1) instead.
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