Copy & Delete

Copy (cp):

               Copies file and directories.

               If copying from one destination to other, the path could be either absolute or relative.

                  E.g:

                           Absolute path: cp /users/sr1/a.txt /users1/sr2

                           Relative path: cp a.txt ../sr2 (assuming the directory structure to be same as above)

        Attributes:

• -f: if an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again
• -i: prompt before overwrite
• -l: link files instead of copying
• -R: copy directories recursively
• -r: remove each existing destination file before attempting to open it (contrast with --force)
• -s: make symbolic links instead of copying
• -u: copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing

Delete (rm):


        Removes files and directories.

     Attributes

•         
• -d: unlink FILE, even if it is a non-empty directory (super-user only)
• -f: forcefully remove the file, no prompt if non-existing file
• -i: prompt before any removal
• -r, -R: remove the contents of directories recursively 

E.g: for removing all files in a directory and directory itself

   rm -rf directoryname
   
Note: rm -rf  * is most disastrous command in unix as it delete all the files in the directory and sub directories.