<p>As per this <a href="https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#copy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">docker documentation</a> the copy instruction may have multiple sources but only one destination.<br>
Your first copy is coping two file <code>/etc/passwd</code> and <code>/etc/group</code> to <code>/etc</code>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-14T02:32:48.320Z
does installing `docker` from `snap` cause path problems with the `COPY` command?
Nicholas Saunders
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-02T21:32:33.247Z
2018-09-02T21:32:33.247Z
storm
<p>I've encountered a Multi-stage Build example, where the first stage builds a ngnix server, and the second stage creates a ngnix service from that image.  </p>

<p>The second stage looks like this:</p>

<pre><code>...
# second stage
FROM scratch
COPY --from=build /etc/passwd /etc/group /etc/
COPY --from=build /usr/local/nginx /usr/local/nginx
COPY index.html /usr/local/nginx/html
...
</code></pre>

<p>This is a working example.</p>

<p>Now, notice the first COPY command. It received three parameters(!)</p>

<p>What is the meaning of 3 parameters in the COPY command? do you have a reference to documentation regarding this input?</p>

<p>Notice that the second COPY command uses 2 parameters, which I assumed are src and dest folders.</p>

<docker><dockerfile><builds><nginx>
Dockerfile COPY command with three input parameters
orberkov
# Dockerfile COPY command with three input parameters

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-02)

I've encountered a Multi-stage Build example, where the first stage builds a ngnix server, and the second stage creates a ngnix service from that image.  
The second stage looks like this:
...
# second stage
FROM scratch
COPY --from=build /etc/passwd /etc/group /etc/
COPY --from=build /usr/local/nginx /usr/local/nginx
COPY index.html /usr/local/nginx/html
...

This is a working example.
Now, notice the first COPY command. It received three parameters(!)
What is the meaning of 3 parameters in the COPY command? do you have a reference to documentation regarding this input?
Notice that the second COPY command uses 2 parameters, which I assumed are src and dest folders.

**Tags:** docker, dockerfile, builds, nginx


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-09-02. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

As per this [docker documentation](https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#copy) the copy instruction may have multiple sources but only one destination.  
Your first copy is coping two file `/etc/passwd` and `/etc/group` to `/etc`.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: does installing `docker` from `snap` cause path problems with the `COPY` command?  

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