NAME

mv  −  move or rename files

SYNOPSIS

mv file1 file2

mv file ... directory

DESCRIPTION

Mv moves (changes the name of) file1 to file2.

If file2 already exists, it is removed before file1 is moved.  If file2 has a mode which forbids writing, mv prints the mode (see chmod(2)) and reads the standard input to obtain a line; if the line begins with y, the move takes place; if not, mv exits. 

In the second form, one or more files are moved to the directory with their original file-names. 

Mv refuses to move a file onto itself. 

SEE ALSO

cp(1), chmod(2)

BUGS

If file1 and file2 lie on different file systems, mv must copy the file and delete the original.  In this case the owner name becomes that of the copying process and any linking relationship with other files is lost. 

Directories may only be moved within the same parent directory. 

Mv should take −f flag, like rm, to suppress the question if the target exists and is not writable. 

7th Edition