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rm - Unix, Linux Command
NAME
rm - remove files or directories
SYNOPSIS
rm [OPTION]... FILE...
DESCRIPTION
rm removes each specified file. By default, it does not remove directories.
If the -I or --interactive=once option is given, and there are more than three files or the -r, -R, or --recursive are given, then rm prompts the user for whether to proceed with the entire operation. If the response is not affirmative, the entire command is aborted.
Otherwise, if a file is unwritable, standard input is a terminal, and the -f or --force option is not given, or the -i or --interactive=always option is given, rm prompts the user for whether to remove the file. If the response is not affirmative, the file is skipped.
OPTIONS
TAG | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|
-f, --force | ignore nonexistent files, never prompt. |
-i | prompt before every removal. |
-I | prompt once before removing more than three files, or when removing recursively. Less intrusive than -i, while still giving protection against most mistakes. |
--interactive[=WHEN] | prompt according to WHEN: never, once (-I), or always (-i). Without WHEN, prompt always. |
--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. |
--no-preserve-root | do not treat '/' specially. |
--preserve-root | do not remove '/' (default). |
-r, -R, --recursive | remove directories and their contents recursively. |
-v, --verbose | explain what is being done. |
--help | display this help and exit. |
--version | output version information and exit. |
EXAMPLES
Example-1:
Remove the file myfile.txt. If the file is write-protected, you will be prompted to confirm that you really want to delete it:
$ rm myfile.txt
Example-2:
Remove the file myfile.txt. You will not be prompted, even if the file is write-protected; if rm can delete the file, it will:
$ rm -f myfile.txt
Example-3:
Remove all files in the working directory. If it is write-protected, you will be prompted before rm removes it:
$ rm *
Example-4:
Remove all files in the working directory. rm will not prompt you for any reason before deleting them:
$ rm -f *
Example-5:
Attempt to remove every file in the working directory, but prompt before each file to confirm:
$ rm -i *
Example-6:
Remove every file in the working directory; prompt for confirmation if more than three files are being deleted:
$ rm -I *
Example-7:
Remove the directory mydirectory, and any files and directories it contains. If a file or directory that rm tries to delete
is write-protected, you will be prompted to make sure that you really want to delete it:
$ rm -r mydirectory
Example-8:
Same as the above command, but you will never be prompted; if rm can delete the files, it will:
$ rm -rf mydirectory
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