Linux Commands | File Management | rm Delete Files/Directories
rm
rm is a command used to delete files or directories.
rm is short for “remove”.
rm Syntax
rm (options) [file or directory name to delete]
rm Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-r |
Deletes regular files or directories, including subdirectories and files under the target path. |
-i |
Asks for confirmation with y/n before deleting. |
-f |
Forces deletion without asking for confirmation. |
-rf |
Forces deletion of directories and their contents without asking for confirmation. |
When deleting directories, rm -rf is commonly used.
rm Examples
Delete a file
rm test
Ask for confirmation before deleting a file
rm -i test
Force-delete a file without confirmation
rm -f test
Delete an empty directory
rm -r testdir
Force-delete a directory even if files exist inside it
rm -rf testdir