Copy file via terminal with wildcard in command like cp /path/*.dat /dist/path/

Question

I want to copy a file via terminal using a command like

cp /path/*.dat 

As I don't know the full name of the file and I want to copy it to a certain path.

This is the command:

sudo cp /home/ubuntu/test/*.dat /opt/myAppFolder/License/

Will this command work?

Solution

Your syntax is okay:

cp /path/to/directory/of/file/*.dat /path/to/destination

But note make sure it's the only file with that .dat extension else all such files with that extension will be copied also.

Note:

1. If already in the folder and the destination is outside that folder then the command would be [note without the "/"]:

   cp path/to/directory/of/file/*.dat /path/to/destination
   
   #or simply
   
   cp *.dat /path/to/destination
   

2. If already in the folder and both file and destination folder are in same folder location then the command would be [note without the "/" on both source and destination]:

   cp path/to/directory/of/file/*.dat path/to/destination
   
   #or simply
   
   cp *.dat path/to/destination