The rm command is a UNIX and Linux command-line utility for deleting files or directories on a Linux system. In this article, we will clearly explain what the “rm -rf” command can actually do on Linux.
In addition, we will share some useful examples of how to delete a file, delete a directory, delete multiple files or directories, request confirmation, delete files recursively, and force file deletion.
The rm command is also one of the most commonly used commands on a Linux system, but also a dangerous command that you will discover later in this article.
How to delete a file in Linux
By default, the rm command only immediately deletes the file or files specified on the command line and does not delete directories.
$ mkdir -p tecmint_files$ touch tecmint.txt $ rm tecmint.txt $ rm tecmint_files <img src="https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/rm-command-example.png" alt="rm Command example
How
to delete multiple files in
Linux
To delete multiple files at once, specify the file names one by one (for example:
file1 file2) or use a pattern to delete multiple files (for example: pattern ending with .txt) at once.
$ rm tecmint.txt fossmint.txt [Using file names] $ rm *.txt [Using pattern]
files in Linux How to delete a directory
in Linux
To delete a
directory, you can use the -r or -R switch, which instructs rm to delete a directory recursively including its contents (subdirectories and files).
$ rm tecmint_files/ $ rm -R tecmint_files/
DeleteHow to delete files with confirmation message
To request confirmation when deleting a file, use the -i option as shown. $ rm -i
tecmint.txt
with confirmation
How to delete directories
with confirmation message
To request confirmation when deleting a directory and its subdirectories, use the -R and -i options as shown.
$ rm -Ri tecmint_files/ <img src="https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Remove-Files-with-Confirmation.png" alt="Delete directory with
directory with confirmation
How
to forcibly delete file or directory
To delete files or directories forcefully, you can use the -f option to force a delete operation without rm by asking for confirmation. For example, if a file cannot be written, rm will ask you if you want to delete that file or not, to avoid this and simply execute the operation.
$ rm -f tecmint.txt
When you combine the -r and -f flags, it means that a directory (and its contents) are recursively and forcibly deleted without prompting.
$ rm -rf fossmint_files <img src="https://www.tecmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Remove-Directory-with-Confirmation.png" alt="Force delete files and
How to display information during deletion
To display more information when deleting a file or directory, use the -v option, this will enable the rm command to display what is being done in the standard output.
$ rm -rv fossmint_files
Learn rm -rf / Command You should always keep in mind that “
rm –
rf” is one of the most dangerous commands, which you can never execute on a Linux system, especially as root. The following command will erase everything on your root (/) partition.
# rm -rf /
Create alias for rm command on Linux
As a security measure, you can have rm always ask you to confirm a delete operation, whenever you want to delete a file or directory, using the -i option. To configure this permanently, add an alias in the $HOME/.bashrc file.
alias rm=”rm -i”
Save your changes and exit the file. Then, get your .bashrc file as shown or open a new terminal for the changes to take effect.
$ source $HOME/.bashrc
This simply implies that when you run rm, it will be invoked with the -i option by default (but using the -f flag will override this setting).
$ rm fossmint.txt $ rm tecmint.txt
a file?
Actually, the rm never erases a file, but is unlinked from the disk, but the data is still on the disk and can be recovered using tools like PhotoRec, Scalpel or Foremost.
If you really want to permanently delete the file or directory, you can use the purge command-line tool to overwrite a file and hide its contents.
That’s all! In this article, we’ve explained some examples of really useful rm commands and we’ve also elaborated on what the “rm -rf” command can do on Linux. If you have any questions or additions to share, please use the feedback form below to reach out to us.
