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rm Syntax Examples
Related commands Unix
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About rm
Deletes
a file without
confirmation (by default).
Syntax
rm [-f] [-i] [-R] [-r]
[filenames | directory]
| -f |
Remove all files (whether write-protected or not) in a directory without prompting the user. In a write-protected directory, however, files are
never removed (whatever their permissions are), but no messages are displayed. If the removal of a
write-protected directory is attempted, this option will not suppress an error message. |
| -i |
Interactive. With this option, rm prompts for confirmation before removing any files. It over- rides the -f option and remains in effect even if the standard input is not a terminal. |
| -R |
Same as -r option. |
| -r |
Recursively remove directories and subdirectories
in the argument list. The directory will be emptied of files and removed. The user is normally prompted for removal of any write-protected files
which the directory contains. The write-protected files are removed without prompting, however, if
the -f option is used, or if the standard input is not a terminal and the -i option is not used.
Symbolic links that are encountered with this option will not be traversed.
If the removal of a non-empty, write-protected directory is attempted, the utility will always fail (even if the -f option is used), resulting in an error message. |
| filenames |
A path
of a filename to be removed. |
Examples
rm myfile.txt Remove the file myfile.txt
without prompting the user.
rm -r directory Remove a directory, even
if files existed in that directory.
Note that if you use rm to remove a file, it is
usually possible to recover the contents of that file. If you want
more assurance that the contents are truly unrecoverable, consider
using shred. Related commands
rmdir
shred |
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