MV(1L)MV(1L)NAME
mv - rename files
SYNOPSIS
mv [options] source dest
mv [options] source... directory
Options:
[-bfiuv] [-S backup-suffix] [-V {numbered,existing,simple}] [--backup]
[--force] [--interactive] [--update] [--verbose] [--suffix=backup-suf‐
fix] [--version-control={numbered,existing,simple}] [--help] [--ver‐
sion]
DESCRIPTION
This manual page documents the GNU version of mv. 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 moves the first onto the second. It is an error if the last
argument is not a directory and more than two files are given. It can
move only regular files across filesystems.
If a destination file is unwritable, the standard input is a tty, and
the -f or --force option is not given, mv prompts the user for whether
to overwrite the file. If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y',
the file is skipped.
OPTIONS
-b, --backup
Make backups of files that are about to be removed.
-f, --force
Remove existing destination files and never prompt the user.
-i, --interactive
Prompt whether to overwrite each destination file that already
exists. 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.
--help Print a usage message on standard output and exit successfully.
--version
Print version information on standard output then exit success‐
fully.
-S, --suffix backup-suffix
The suffix used for making simple backup files can be set with
the SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX environment variable, which can be
overridden by this option. If neither of those is given, the
default is `~', as it is in Emacs.
-V, --version-control {numbered,existing,simple}
The type of backups made can be set with the VERSION_CONTROL
environment variable, which can be overridden by this option.
If VERSION_CONTROL is not set and this option is not given, the
default backup type is `existing'. The value of the VER‐
SION_CONTROL environment variable and the argument to this
option are like the GNU Emacs `version-control' variable; they
also recognize synonyms that are more descriptive. The valid
values are (unique abbreviations are accepted):
`t' or `numbered'
Always make numbered backups.
`nil' or `existing'
Make numbered backups of files that already have them,
simple backups of the others.
`never' or `simple'
Always make simple backups.
FSF GNU File Utilities MV(1L)
