What does `rsync` do? Flags & examples explained

rsync examples, explained

$ rsync -avz --delete src/ dest/

rsyncefficiently sync files, copying only what changed
-aarchive — recurse and preserve nearly everything
-vverbose — list files as they transfer
-zcompress data during transfer
--deletedelete files on the destination that are gone from the source
src/an argument passed to the command
dest/an argument passed to the command

$ rsync -a --dry-run a/ b/

rsyncefficiently sync files, copying only what changed
-aarchive — recurse and preserve nearly everything
--dry-runshow what would happen, change nothing
a/an argument passed to the command
b/an argument passed to the command

rsync flags & options

-a	archive — recurse and preserve nearly everything
-v	verbose — list files as they transfer
-z	compress data during transfer
-r	recurse into directories
-P	show progress and keep partial files
-n	dry run — show what would happen, change nothing
-u	skip files that are newer on the destination
-e	use the given remote shell (e.g. ssh)
--delete	delete files on the destination that are gone from the source
--exclude	skip files matching this pattern
--progress	show a progress bar during transfer
--dry-run	show what would happen, change nothing

Other commands

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