xcopy

Xcopy is a command-line utility in DOS and Windows that copies files and directories from one location to another, with options to include subdirectories, copy hidden or system files, and control attributes. It extends the basic copy command by supporting recursive copying, date filtering, and a variety of switches that influence how the copy is performed.

Common features include copying subdirectories with /S or including empty ones with /E, copying hidden or system files with /H, continuing after errors with /C, and suppressing or prompting for overwrites with /Y or /-Y. It can copy only files with the Archive attribute using /A or /M, apply a date criterion with /D, and list what would be copied with /L. Additional switches exist to control how attributes are preserved, to exclude certain files, or to copy in restartable network mode.

Syntax: xcopy source [destination] [options]. Paths containing spaces should be quoted. If copying more than one file, the destination is treated as a directory; the /I switch can force this interpretation. The /F and /V switches provide more feedback, and /B copies in backup mode while /Q suppresses file-name output.

Examples: xcopy C:\Data D:\Backup /E /H /C /Y copies all files and subdirectories, including hidden and empty ones, continues on errors, and does not prompt for overwriting. xcopy "C:\Program Files\Docs" "D:\Docs Backup" /E /I copies the entire folder structure, treating the destination as a directory.

History and status: Xcopy debuted in early DOS as an enhanced copy tool and remains available for compatibility in modern Windows. It has largely been superseded by Robocopy for robust copying, error handling, and logging, but xcopy is still documented and usable for simpler tasks and legacy scripts.