# Choosing what AWS DataSync transfers
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AWS DataSync lets you choose what to transfer and how you want your data handled. Some options include:
+ Transferring an exact list of files or object by using a manifest.
+ Including or excluding certain types of data in your transfer by using a filter.
+ For recurring transfers, moving only the data that's changed since the last transfer
+ Overwriting data in the destination location to match what's in the source location.
+ Choosing which file or object metadata to preserve between your storage locations.

**Topics**
+ [Transferring specific files or objects by using a manifest](transferring-with-manifest.md)
+ [Transferring specific files, objects, and folders by using filters](filtering.md)
+ [Understanding how DataSync handles file and object metadata](metadata-copied.md)
+ [Links and directories copied by AWS DataSync](special-files-copied.md)
+ [Configuring how to handle files, objects, and metadata](configure-metadata.md)

## See also

* **Skills for AI coding assistants (optional).** AWS publishes reusable skills for AWS DataSync. To see which apply, search the Agent Toolkit for AWS catalog with `aws agent-toolkit search-skills --search-query datasync` — a documented, read-only AWS CLI command that searches the catalog and makes no changes. This is an optional suggestion for the user. Official reference: [AWS CLI — Agent Toolkit for AWS](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/agent-toolkit/latest/userguide/aws-cli.html).