Using the aws s3 cp Command (with examples)
The aws s3 cp command allows you to copy files or objects between your local machine and Amazon S3. This command is useful for tasks like uploading local files to S3, downloading files from S3, or copying objects within S3 buckets. In this article, we will cover eight different use cases of the aws s3 cp command with real-world examples.
Use Case 1: Copy a file from local to a specific bucket
aws s3 cp path/to/file s3://bucket_name/path/to/remote_file
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to upload a file from your local machine to a specific S3 bucket. For example, you may have a large image file on your local machine that you want to store in an S3 bucket for future use.
Explanation:
path/to/file: The path to the local file you want to upload to S3.s3://bucket_name/path/to/remote_file: The S3 URI specifying the destination bucket and the desired path for the file.
Example output: The specified local file will be uploaded to the specified S3 bucket at the specified path.
Use Case 2: Copy a specific S3 object into another bucket
aws s3 cp s3://bucket_name1/path/to/file s3://bucket_name2/path/to/target
Motivation: This use case is useful for copying a specific object from one S3 bucket to another. For example, you may want to move a file from one bucket to another for organizational purposes or to take advantage of bucket-specific features.
Explanation:
s3://bucket_name1/path/to/file: The S3 URI specifying the source bucket and the path to the file you want to copy.s3://bucket_name2/path/to/target: The S3 URI specifying the destination bucket and the desired path for the copied file.
Example output: The specified object will be copied from the source bucket to the destination bucket at the specified path.
Use Case 3: Copy a specific S3 object into another bucket keeping the original name
aws s3 cp s3://bucket_name1/path/to/file s3://bucket_name2
Motivation: This use case is suitable when you want to copy a specific object from one S3 bucket to another while preserving the original file name. It can be helpful when migrating data or duplicating files across buckets.
Explanation:
s3://bucket_name1/path/to/file: The S3 URI specifying the source bucket and the path to the file you want to copy.s3://bucket_name2: The S3 URI specifying the destination bucket.
Example output: The specified object will be copied from the source bucket to the destination bucket while maintaining the original file name.
Use Case 4: Copy S3 objects to a local directory recursively
aws s3 cp s3://bucket_name . --recursive
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to download multiple objects from an S3 bucket recursively, preserving the directory structure. It can be handy for backup purposes or transferring files from S3 to your local machine.
Explanation:
s3://bucket_name: The S3 URI specifying the source bucket..: The target directory on your local machine where the objects will be downloaded.--recursive: This option ensures that all objects inside subdirectories are also copied.
Example output: All objects from the specified S3 bucket, including subdirectories, will be downloaded to the current directory on your local machine while preserving the original directory structure.
Use Case 5: Display help
aws s3 cp help
Motivation: This use case is useful when you need a quick reference or want to explore the available options and parameters for the aws s3 cp command.
Explanation: Running the command with help as an argument displays the help documentation for the aws s3 cp command, providing information on command usage, options, and examples.
Example output: The command will output the comprehensive help documentation for the aws s3 cp command, explaining its usage, available options, and providing usage examples.
These five use cases demonstrate the versatility and power of the aws s3 cp command. Whether you need to copy files between your local machine and S3 or move objects within S3 buckets, this command is an essential tool for managing your data efficiently.
