How can you synchronize file changes between a source and a destination directory?

To synchronize file changes between a source and a destination directory effectively, using the rsync command is the best choice. Rsync is specifically designed for efficient data transfer, and synchronization. It compares the files in both the source and destination locations and only transfers the differences between them. This means that if a file has been modified, added, or deleted, rsync will update the destination accordingly without re-copying all the unchanged files, which can save time and bandwidth.

In addition to its efficiency, rsync provides various options for handling file permissions, compression, and encryption, making it a versatile tool for synchronization tasks. It can also operate over SSH, enhancing security for remote data transfers.

Other commands, while useful in their own right, do not serve the same purpose for synchronization. For example, moving files with the mv command changes their location without preserving a source and destination state. Similarly, the cp command is primarily used for copying files and does not inherently consider updates or deletions, resulting in less efficient transfers. The sync command is designed to flush file system buffers, ensuring that data is written to disk, but it does not perform any actual file transfers or comparisons. Therefore, rsync stands out as the most appropriate tool for synchronizing file changes