mv: Move (rename) files

mv moves or renames files (or directories). Synopsis:

mv [option]... source dest
mv [option]... source... directory

If the last argument names an existing directory, mv moves each other given file into a file with the same name in that directory. Otherwise, if only two files are given, it renames the first as the second. It is an error if the last argument is not a directory and more than two files are given.

mv can move only regular files across filesystems.

If a destination file exists but is normally unwritable, standard input is a terminal, and the `-f' or `--force' option is not given, mv prompts the user for whether to replace the file. (You might own the file, or have write permission on its directory.) If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y', the file is skipped.

The program accepts the following options. Also see section Common options.

`-b'

`--backup'

Make backups of files that are about to be overwritten or removed. See section Backup options.

`-f'

`--force'

Remove existing destination files and never prompt the user.

`-i'

`--interactive'

Prompt whether to overwrite each existing destination file, regardless of its permissions. If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y', the file is skipped.

`-u'

`--update'

Do not move a nondirectory that has an existing destination with the same or newer modification time.

`-v'

`--verbose'

Print the name of each file before moving it.

`-S suffix'

`--suffix=suffix'

Append suffix to each backup file made with `-b'. See section Backup options.

`-V method'

`--version-control=method'

Change the type of backups made with `-b'. The method argument can be `numbered' (or `t'), `existing' (or `nil'), or `never' (or `simple'). See section Backup options.

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