---
name: "sync"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sync"
---

# sync(1)

Synchronize cached writes to persistent storage

## NAME

sync - Synchronize cached writes to persistent storage

## SYNOPSIS

**sync** \[*OPTION*\] \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Synchronize cached writes to persistent storage

If one or more files are specified, sync only them, or their containing file systems.

- **-d, --data**

  sync only file data, no unneeded metadata

- **-f, --file-system**

  sync the file systems that contain the files

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## BUGS

Persistence guarantees vary per system. See the system calls below for more details.

## AUTHOR

Written by Jim Meyering and Giuseppe Scrivano.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**fdatasync**(2)](/fdatasync/2.md), [**fsync**(2)](/fsync/2.md), [**sync**(2)](/sync/2.md), [**syncfs**(2)](/syncfs/2.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/sync\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) sync invocation'