Question

in linux to copy and paste a file we have cp command

cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY

But what if I don’t want to paste the file to any directory right now and I just want to copy it for future use? For example in GUI

right click to file>click on copy 
#Do something else change directory/use internet/have coffee
Right click at some other directory/place>click on 'Paste' >file will be pasted at DIRECTORY

same procedure is applied to cut/move the file. Is there any command for such copy/cut in linux??

Answer 1

Assign the name of the file to a variable.

$ file_to_copy=`pwd`/important_notes.txt

cd elsewhere, use internet, have coffee. Ok, we want that file in our current directory.

$ cp $file_to_copy .

Use mv to move instead of copy.

(Please don’t call this copy-pasting. It’s just copying. Note that the initial $ represents the prompt, don’t type that.)