Definition of Copy (computer science)

In computing, copying is the action of duplicating some content that can be: file, folder, text, etc.

In Windows it is the action of storing selected content (texts, images, folders, files, etc.) in the Windows Clipboard so that it can later be «pasted» or played elsewhere. In English it is Copy.

Copy differs from Cut in that the former duplicates the content, while Cut deletes the original.

How the Copy action is performed in Windows

– The content to be copied is selected, which can be a file, folder, text, etc. The copy action is performed in Windows with the CTRL + C key combination. Then to Paste the previously selected content, press CTRL + V.

– By right clicking on the content to be copied (file, folder, text, etc.), and in the displayed contextual menu select Copy. Then, to Paste said content, right click on the appropriate place, open the context menu and click on Paste.

Copy to UNIX shell, Linux and others

The cp command is used as follows:

cp file /home/file/

Copy files and directories in DOS

There are basically two commands copy and xcopy. The former cannot copy subdirectories, instead xcopy allows you to copy files and subdirectories. Its syntax is as follows:

copy C:\file.txt C:\directory_name\

copy *.* D:\directory_name\