INSTALL(1) User Commands INSTALL(1)
NAME
install - copy files and set attributes
SYNOPSIS
install [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
install [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
install [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...
install [OPTION]... -d DIRECTORY...
DESCRIPTION
This install program copies files (often just compiled) into destination
locations you choose. If you want to download and install a
ready-to-use package on a GNU/Linux system, you should instead be using
a package manager like yum(1) or apt-get(1).
In the first three forms, copy SOURCE to DEST or multiple SOURCE(s) to
the existing DIRECTORY, while setting permission modes and owner/group.
In the 4th form, create all components of the given DIRECTORY(ies).
Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
--backup[=CONTROL]
make a backup of each existing destination file
-b like --backup but does not accept an argument
-c (ignored)
-C, --compare
compare content of source and destination files, and if no change
to content, ownership, and permissions, do not modify the desti-
nation at all
-d, --directory
treat all arguments as directory names; create all components of
the specified directories
-D create all leading components of DEST except the last, or all
components of --target-directory, then copy SOURCE to DEST
--debug
explain how a file is copied. Implies -v
-g, --group=GROUP
set group ownership, instead of process' current group
-m, --mode=MODE
set permission mode (as in chmod), instead of rwxr-xr-x
-o, --owner=OWNER
set ownership (super-user only)
-p, --preserve-timestamps
apply access/modification times of SOURCE files to corresponding
destination files
-s, --strip
strip symbol tables
--strip-program=PROGRAM
program used to strip binaries
-S, --suffix=SUFFIX
override the usual backup suffix
-t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
-T, --no-target-directory
treat DEST as a normal file
-v, --verbose
print the name of each created file or directory
--preserve-context
preserve SELinux security context
-Z set SELinux security context of destination file and each created
directory to default type
--context[=CTX]
like -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK se-
curity context to CTX
--help display this help and exit
--version
output version information and exit
The backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUF-
FIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option
or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the val-
ues:
none, off
never make backups (even if --backup is given)
numbered, t
make numbered backups
existing, nil
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
simple, never
always make simple backups
AUTHOR
Written by David MacKenzie.
REPORTING BUGS
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
cp(1)
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/install>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) install invocation'
Packaged by Debian (9.7-3)
Copyright © 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/li-
censes/gpl.html>.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
GNU coreutils 9.7 June 2025 INSTALL(1)
Generated by dwww version 1.16 on Tue Dec 16 04:47:40 CET 2025.