rm Command: Removing Files and Directories
Summary
The rm command is a fundamental Linux utility for removing files and directories. It provides a straightforward way to delete unwanted items from your system. Use with caution, as deleted files are typically not recoverable via conventional means.
Introduction
The rm command is the primary tool for deleting files and directories in Linux. Its syntax is simple: rm [options] file1 file2 ... directory1 directory2 .... By default, rm removes files without prompting for confirmation. It's crucial to double-check your targets before executing rm, especially with wildcard characters.
Use case and Examples
Deleting a single file
This command removes the file namedmyfile.txt from the current directory. Deleting multiple files
This command removesfile1.txt, file2.txt, and file3.txt from the current directory. Deleting an empty directory
This command removes the empty directory namedmydirectory. The -d flag is required to remove directories with rm. An alternative is to use rmdir mydirectory. Deleting a directory and its contents recursively (USE WITH CAUTION!)
This command recursively removes the directorymydirectory and all its contents (files and subdirectories). This is a powerful command and can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Double check before using this command. Deleting files interactively
This command prompts for confirmation before deleting each file. You'll need to typey for yes or n for no for each file. Forcing the removal of a write-protected file
This command forces the removal offile1.txt, even if you don't have write permissions on the file (assuming you have sufficient permissions on the parent directory). Commonly used flags
| Flag | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
-f or --force | Ignores nonexistent files and arguments, never prompts. This is useful for scripting where you don't want errors to halt execution. | rm -f non_existent_file.txt |
-i or --interactive | Prompts before every removal. | rm -i myfile.txt |
-r or -R or --recursive | Removes directories and their contents recursively. Use with extreme caution. | rm -r mydirectory |
-d or --dir | Removes empty directories. Equivalent to rmdir. | rm -d empty_directory |
-v or --verbose | Shows what is being done. Prints the name of each file before removing it. | rm -v myfile.txt |
--one-file-system | When removing a hierarchy recursively, skip any directory that is on a file system different from that of the corresponding command line argument. | rm -r --one-file-system /path/to/directory |