mv: Move and Rename

The mv command (move) does two jobs with one tool: it moves files to a different folder, and it renames them. Same pattern as cp: mv SOURCE DESTINATION.

Renaming a file

If the destination is just a new name, the file is renamed in place:

mv draft.txt final.txt

draft.txt is gone; final.txt now holds its contents. Unlike cp, no extra copy is left behind: mv moves, it does not duplicate.

Moving a file into a folder

If the destination is an existing folder, the file is moved inside it, keeping its name:

mv final.txt reports

Now the file lives at reports/final.txt.

Move and rename at once

You can do both in one command: move into a folder and give a new name:

mv notes.txt archive/notes-2026.txt

Moving folders

mv handles directories with no special option (unlike cp, which needs -r):

mv oldname newname

Like cp, mv overwrites an existing destination file without warning, so choose names carefully.

Mission: File Relocation

The station's filing system is being reorganised. A draft needs finalising, loose notes need archiving, and the archive folder itself is getting a new name. Your home directory contains draft.txt, notes.txt and an archive folder.

1. Rename draft.txt to report.txt.
2. Move report.txt into the archive folder.
3. Move notes.txt into archive and rename it to notes-2026.txt in a single command.
4. Rename the archive folder itself to records.

Expected result

The records folder holds report.txt and notes-2026.txt; the old draft.txt, notes.txt and archive names are gone.