mv

mv linux command cheatsheet by Thamizhiniyan C S

Introduction

This command is used to move the files and directories from the source to destination. Also used for renaming files.

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Syntax

mv [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST

mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY

mv [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...

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Important Flags

Flag	Description
-b, --backup	Create a backup of files that will be overwritten or removed.
-f, --force	Overwrite destination files without prompting the user.
-i, --interactive	Prompt the user to confirm if the mv action should overwrite a file.
-S, --suffix=	Provide a suffix for a backup file. The default suffix is ~.
-u, --update	Perform the mv action only if the source file is newer or the destination file does not exist.
-v, --verbose	Show an output describing the action taken.
--help	Output the command help and exit.
--version	Show the command version and exit.

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Examples

Command	Description
mv name1 name2	Rename the file name1 to name2. The command produces no output, but ls confirms the operation was successful.
mv filename /path/to/destination/	To move a file from one folder to another
mv directory_name /path/to/destination/	To move an entire directory
mv [source_file_name(s)] [Destination_file_name]	Rename a file: Rename source_file_name to Destination_file_name. Overwrites Destination_file_name if it exists.
mv filename2 filename1	Renames filename2 to filename1. Overwrites filename1 if it exists.
mv [source_file_name(s)] [Destination_path]	Move a file: Move source_file_name(s) to Destination_path.
mv filename1 /home/user/test/	Moves filename1 to /home/user/test/.
mv [source_file_name_1] [source_file_name_2] [...] [Destination_path]	Move multiple files: Move source_file_name_1, source_file_name_2, etc., to Destination_path.
mv file_1 file_2 /home/user/test/	Moves file_1 and file_2 to /home/user/test/.
mv [source_directory_name(s)] [Destination_directory_name]	Rename directory: Rename source_directory_name(s) to Destination_directory_name. Overwrites Destination_directory_name if it exists.
mv test new_file	Renames test to new_file. Overwrites new_file if it exists.
mv -i filename2 filename1	Renames filename2 to filename1, prompts for confirmation if filename1 exists.
mv -v name1 name2 name3 test-dir	Move the files name1, name2, and name3 to test-dir in the home directory and show verbose output. The output confirms successful file movement.
mv -v name1 name2	Rename the file name1 to name2 and print the output. This command produces an output listing the performed actions.
mv -v -i name1 name2	Rename name1 to name2, prompting for confirmation if name2 already exists.
mv -f file filename1	Forcefully renames file to filename1, overwriting filename1 if it exists.
mv -n oldfile newfile	Renames oldfile to newfile, does not overwrite newfile if it exists.
mv -b first_file second_file	Renames first_file to second_file, creates a backup of second_file if it exists.
mv --version	Displays the version of mv.
for file in *.24bes; do mv "$file" "${file%.24bes}"; done	Loops through all the files with .24bes extension and removes the extension `.24bes`.