Does cp -p apply to the source or destination file?

Question

When I use -p to preserve the file permissions of a file being copied, does it apply to the source or the destination file (if it already exists)?

Thanks

Aaron Copley · Answer 1 · 2012-01-19 22:05:45Z

up vote 4 down vote accepted

It's preserves the source file's attributes (mode, ownership, and timestamps) in the destination. (Provided the destination file system supports it.)

If a file already exists it will be overwritten with the source and it's attributes, unless you've combined the -i flag.

answered Jan 19 at 22:05

	exhausting and 100% correct. – yarek Jan 19 at 22:11
	So if -p is not specified and the destination file exists, the copied file will inherit the mode and owner of the existing file? – Tom Jan 19 at 23:02
	Yes, that's correct. :) – Aaron Copley Jan 20 at 22:35

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