Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

mv

Synopsis

                  mv [option] sources 
                  target
               

Move or rename files and directories. The source (first column) and target (second column) determine the result (third column):

Source	Target	Result
File	name (nonexistent)	Rename file to name.
File	Existing file	Overwrite existing file with source file.
Directory	name (nonexistent)	Rename directory to name.
Directory	Existing directory	Move directory to be a subdirectory of existing directory.
One or more files	Existing directory	Move files to directory.

Options

-b, --backup

Back up files before removing.

-f, --force

Force the move, even if target file exists; suppress messages about restricted access modes.

--help

Print a help message and then exit.

-i, --interactive

Query user before removing files.

-u, --update

Do not remove a file or link if its modification date is the same as or newer than that of its replacement.

-v, --verbose

Print the name of each file before moving it.

--version

Print version information and then exit.

-S suffix, --suffix= suffix

Override the SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX environment variable, which determines the suffix used for making simple backup files. If the suffix is not set either way, the default is a tilde (~).

-V value, --version-control= value

Override the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable, which determines the type of backups made. The acceptable values for version control are:

t, numbered

Always make numbered backups.

nil, existing

Make numbered backups of files that already have them, ...