The enum class type copy_options is a bitmask type ([bitmask.types]) that specifies bitmask constants used to control the semantics of copy operations. The constants are specified in option groups with the meanings listed in Table 124. Constant none is shown in each option group for purposes of exposition; implementations shall provide only a single definition.
| Option group controlling copy_file function effects for existing target files | |
| Constant | Meaning |
| none | (Default) Error; file already exists. |
| skip_existing | Do not overwrite existing file, do not report an error. |
| overwrite_existing | Overwrite the existing file. |
| update_existing | Overwrite the existing file if it is older than the replacement file. |
| Option group controlling copy function effects for sub-directories | |
| Constant | Meaning |
| none | (Default) Do not copy sub-directories. |
| recursive | Recursively copy sub-directories and their contents. |
| Option group controlling copy function effects for symbolic links | |
| Constant | Meaning |
| none | (Default) Follow symbolic links. |
| copy_symlinks | Copy symbolic links as symbolic links rather than copying the files that they point to. |
| skip_symlinks | Ignore symbolic links. |
| Option group controlling copy function effects for choosing the form of copying | |
| Constant | Meaning |
| none | (Default) Copy content. |
| directories_only | Copy directory structure only, do not copy non-directory files. |
| create_symlinks | Make symbolic links instead of copies of files. The source path shall be an absolute path unless the destination path is in the current directory. |
| create_hard_links | Make hard links instead of copies of files. |