mv

Overview

The mv (move) command moves or renames files and directories. It can move multiple files to a directory and includes options for safe operations.

Syntax

mv [options] source... destination

Common Options

Option Description
-i Interactive (prompt before overwrite)
-f Force move (no prompting)
-n No overwrite
-u Update (move only newer files)
-v Verbose mode
-b Create backup
-t target Move all sources into target directory
--strip-trailing-slashes Remove trailing slashes
--suffix=suffix Backup suffix (default ~)

Key Use Cases

  1. Move files
  2. Rename files
  3. Move directories
  4. Safe file operations
  5. Bulk file movement

Examples with Explanations

Example 1: Rename File

mv oldname newname

Rename file from oldname to newname

Example 2: Move to Directory

mv file1 file2 directory/

Move multiple files to directory

Example 3: Safe Move

mv -i source dest

Move with confirmation prompt

Understanding Output

  • No output by default
  • With -v:
    • ‘renamed file1 -> file2’ format
  • Error messages for:
    • Permission denied
    • No space
    • File exists
    • Source not found

Common Usage Patterns

  1. Safe moving:

    mv -i * ../newdir/

  2. Create backup:

    mv -b file1 file2

  3. Update existing:

    mv -u source/* dest/

Performance Analysis

  • Fast operation (metadata update)
  • Cross-filesystem considerations
  • Directory entry updates
  • Backup creation overhead
  • Permission checking

Additional Resources