Unix cp example

gistfile1.txt

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ pwd 
#=> this is where I'm starting the example
/Users/mike/rails_projects

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ touch example.txt 
#=> I'm creating a blank text file called example.txt

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ mkdir newfolder1 
#=> I'm creating a new directory called newfolder1

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ cp example.txt newfolder1/ 
#=> I copy example.txt into newfolder1

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ ls newfolder1/ 
#=> I show the contents of newfolder1 (includes example.txt)
example.txt

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ cp newfolder1 newfolder2 
#=> I try to copy the contents of newfolder1 (example.txt) into newfolder2 (which is a new folder that I have not yet created)
cp: newfolder1 is a directory (not copied). 
#=> I get an error telling me the copy didn't work.

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ cp -r newfolder1 newfolder2 
#=> I try to copy again, only this time I use the recurse argument. Recurse ignores the error, and forces the copy (which also creates newfolder2)

MICHAELs-MacBook-Pro:rails_projects mike$ ls newfolder2/ 
#=> I prove that the copy worked by listing the contents of newfolder2. It shows me that it contains example.txt, which is the copied file.
example.txt