To duplicate a file, which command should you use?

The command used to duplicate a file in a Linux or Unix-based operating system is 'cp', which stands for "copy." When you use this command followed by the source file and the destination where you want the copy to be created, it creates an exact duplicate of the original file.

For example, if you have a file named "document.txt" and you want to create a copy called "document_copy.txt," you would use the command: cp document.txt document_copy.txt. This results in two separate files, enabling you to edit or manipulate the duplicate without affecting the original.

In contrast, the other commands serve different purposes: 'mv' is used to move or rename files, 'rm' is for removing files, and 'touch' primarily creates empty files or updates the timestamps on existing files. Therefore, for duplicating files, 'cp' is the appropriate and effective command to use.