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mv Command in Linux with examples

mv Command

mv command is the basic command in Linux. It permanently moves the files or directories from one location to another and deletes the files in the source.

Basic Syntax

mv <option> <source> <destination>
Here, the file in the source path is removed, after copying to destination path.

To move a file

It moves a single file from one location to another using mv command.

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls –l
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:09 test1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:09 test2.txt
[root@linuxhelp test]# mv test1.txt /home/user1/Pictures/
[root@linuxhelp test]# ls –l
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:09 test2.txt
[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:09 test1.txt

Here, the 'test1.txt' file is deleted from 'test' directory.

 

To move multiple files

More than one file can be moved at the same time using mv command.

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:11 test1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:09 test2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:11 test3.txt
[root@linuxhelp test]# mv test1.txt test2.txt /home/user1/Pictures/
[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:11 test1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:09 test2.txt

 

To move directory

To move a directory from one location to another location there is no need of any options as like in ‘;cp’; command.

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l
Total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:13 temp 1
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:13 temp2

[root@linuxhelp test]# mv temp1 /home/user1/Pictures/
[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/
total 4
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:13 temp 1

 

To rename files or directories

mv command is not only used for moving files or directories. It can be used to rename both files and directories.

Syntax:
mv <existing-file> <new-file-name>

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l
total 12
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:15 temp 1
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:13 temp2
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:16 tempp

[root@linuxhelp test]# mv tempp temp3
[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l
total 12
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:15 temp 1
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:13 temp2
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 11 06:16 temp3

 

To track the process

The process can be traced by using '-v' option.

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l  
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test3.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test4.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# mv -v *.txt /home/user1/Pictures/
`test1.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/test1.txt'
`test2.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/test2.txt'
`test3.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/test3.txt'
`test4.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/test4.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l 
total 0

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/  
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test3.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:20 test4.txt

 

Interactive mode

In this mode, if the destination directory contains the same contents in source or to delete the contents, it will ask the confirmation. User have to answer the question either by pressing 'y' (yes) or 'n' (no).

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l 
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:28 test.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/ 
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:28 test.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# mv -i test.txt /home/user1/Pictures/ 
mv: overwrite `/home/user1/Pictures/test.txt'? Y

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/ 
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 19:24 test.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# cd /home/user1/Pictures/ 
[root@linuxhelp Pictures]# ll
total 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:28 test.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# rm test.txt
rm: remove regular empty file ‘;test.txt’; ? y

[root@linuxhelp Pictures]# ls –l
total 0

To move only if source is modified

To move the files which is updated or edited recently.

'-u' option is to be used.

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:36 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:33 file2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:33 file3.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:36 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:34 file2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:34 file3.txt

[root@linuxhelp test]# vim file1.txt
[root@linuxhelp test]# mv -vu *.txt /home/user1/Pictures/
`file1.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/file1.txt'

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/
total 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 12 Feb 11 06:37 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:34 file2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:34 file3.txt

To create backup of moving file

The file which is to be moved will create the backup of the same file in the specified location with tilde (~) symbol at the last.

[root@linuxhelp test]# mv -bv *.txt /home/user1/Pictures/
mv: overwrite ‘;/home/user1/Pictures/file1.txt’; ? y
`file1.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/file1.txt' (backup: `/home/user1/Pictures/file1.txt~')
mv: overwrite ‘;/home/user1/Pictures/file2.txt’; ? y
`file2.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/file2.txt' (backup: `/home/user1/Pictures/file2.txt~')
mv: overwrite ‘;/home/user1/Pictures/file3.txt’; ? y
`file3.txt' -> `/home/user1/Pictures/file3.txt' (backup: `/home/user1/Pictures/file3.txt~')

[root@linuxhelp test]# ls -l /home/user1/Pictures/
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:45 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 17:33 file1.txt~
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:45 file2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 17:33 file2.txt~
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 06:45 file3.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb 11 17:33 file3.txt~
Tag : mv command
FAQ
Q
How to create a backup of existing destination files using the mv command?
A
You can use the option "-b" to be with mv command to create a backup for existing the destination file.
Q
How to show emit details of what is happening at the execution of mv command??
A
You can use the option of "-v" with the mv command. It will display the detail about the execution of a command.
Q
How to move the file (or) directory to the certain destination with recursively?
A
You can use the option of "-r" with mv command to move the file (or) directory to the certain destination.
Q
How to check the version of mv command on the system?
A
You can check the version of mv command on the system using the option as "--version".
Q
How to make sure the interactive prompt while using the mv command?
A
You can use the option of "-i" to make an interactive prompt while using the mv command.