What does the 'cp -r' command do in Linux?

The command 'cp -r' in Linux is used to recursively copy directories. When the '-r' (or '--recursive') option is specified, the command copies not only the specified directory but also all of its contents, including subdirectories and the files they contain. This makes it particularly useful when you need to duplicate an entire directory structure while preserving the hierarchy and contents.

For example, if you have a directory named 'source' that contains several files and subdirectories, using 'cp -r source destination' will copy 'source' and everything inside it to the 'destination' directory.

Understanding this command is vital for file management in Linux, particularly when working with complex directory structures, as it ensures that everything within a specified directory is included in the copy operation, maintaining the original structure and organization.