{
  "slug": "zfs-clone",
  "term": "ZFS dataset clone",
  "aliases": [
    "OpenZFS clone",
    "zfs clone"
  ],
  "definition": "A ZFS dataset clone is a writable filesystem or volume created from a snapshot and initially sharing its data.",
  "note": "Origin dependency: the clone's origin property names its source snapshot; the snapshot's clones property lists the filesystems or volumes cloned from it. A different place in the dataset hierarchy does not remove this dependency. [concepts] [properties]\n\nDeletion scope: ordinary snapshot destruction fails while a dependent clone exists. For dataset destruction, -R can remove dependent clones even outside the target hierarchy, whereas -r follows child datasets. Inspect dependencies before any deletion. [destroy]\n\nCopy scope: dataset cloning differs from file-level reflinks. It provides writable state, not a copy in another storage pool. [concepts] [clone]",
  "related": [
    "snapshot",
    "copy-on-write",
    "reflink",
    "zfs-clone-promotion",
    "zfs-snapshot-hold",
    "zfs-bookmark",
    "zfs-deferred-snapshot-destruction"
  ],
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "concepts",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfsconcepts(7), dataset clones and block cloning",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/7/zfsconcepts.7.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-22"
    },
    {
      "id": "properties",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfsprops(7), origin, clones, userrefs and defer_destroy",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/7/zfsprops.7.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-22"
    },
    {
      "id": "destroy",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-destroy(8), dependent and deferred destruction",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/8/zfs-destroy.8.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-22"
    },
    {
      "id": "clone",
      "title": "OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-clone(8), filesystem and volume clones",
      "url": "https://openzfs.github.io/openzfs-docs/man/v2.3/8/zfs-clone.8.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-22"
    }
  ],
  "advantages": [],
  "limitations": [],
  "status": "shipping",
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "updated": "2026-10-22",
  "provenance": [
    "Source review of OpenZFS v2.3 documentation; no pool, promotion or recovery experiment was performed."
  ]
}