Linux mv Command

In Linux we use “mv” command to move files and directories from one location to the other. mv command also uses to rename SOURCE to DEST.

mv command move file Source to Destination

$  mv /home/Downloads/linux.iso /home/Desktop 

# In this example mv command move linux.iso file from Downloads to Desktop folder.

mv command to move multiple files

We can also use the mv command to move multiple files from Source to Destination.

$  mv centostu.iso fedora.iso ~/linux-setup/

# In this example mv command moving multiple files from one location to another.

mv command rename file Source to Destination

$  mv linux.iso linux-distro.iso

# In this example mv command rename linux.iso file to linux-distro.iso.

mv command move and rename file both at once

$  mv linux.iso ../linux-distro.iso

# In this example mv command rename linux.iso file to linux-distro.iso and also move it one level up.

mv -i command prompt with confirmation to overwrite

By default, the mv command will overwrite the destination file if it already exists. You can override this behavior with the -i option. If we use -i with move command, this will prompt you for confirmation before overwriting a file.

$  mv -i linux.iso ../linux-distro.iso

# In this example mv command rename linux.iso file to linux-distro.iso and also move it one level up.

mv -n command instruct never overwrite an existing destination file

We can use the -n option to instruct the mv command to never overwrite an existing destination file.

$  mv -n linux.iso ../linux-distro.iso

# In this example mv command rename linux.iso file to linux-distro.iso and also move it one level up.

mv -v command verbose explain what is being done

We can use the -v option to instruct the mv command to show details what is being done.

$  mv -v linux.iso ../linux-distro.iso

# In this example mv command rename linux.iso file to linux-distro.iso and also move it one level up. With option -v it will also display the detail what is being done.

mv -b command to move file anyway and rename the existing file

We can also use the mv -b command to move it anyway and rename the existing file.

$ mv -b linux.iso ../linux-distro.iso

# In this example mv -b command to move it anyway and rename the existing file.

mv Command in Linux (Documentation)

NAME
       mv - move (rename) files

SYNOPSIS
       mv [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
       mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
       mv [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

DESCRIPTION
       Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

       Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

       --backup[=CONTROL]
              make a backup of each existing destination file

       -b     like --backup but does not accept an argument

       -f, --force
              do not prompt before overwriting

       -i, --interactive
              prompt before overwrite

       -n, --no-clobber
              do not overwrite an existing file
 If you specify more than one of -i, -f, -n, only the final one takes effect.

       --strip-trailing-slashes
              remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument

       -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
              override the usual backup suffix

       -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
              move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

       -T, --no-target-directory
              treat DEST as a normal file

       -u, --update
              move only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is miss‐
              ing

       -v, --verbose
              explain what is being done

       -Z, --context
              set SELinux security context of destination file to default type

       --help display this help and exit

       --version
              output version information and exit
    The backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.  The version control method may be
       selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable.  Here are the values:

       none, off
              never make backups (even if --backup is given)

       numbered, t
              make numbered backups

       existing, nil
              numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise

       simple, never
              always make simple backups