The `rm` command in Linux is used to remove or delete files and directories. It stands for "remove," and its primary function is to erase specified files from the file system. This command can be used to delete single or multiple files at once, and when used with appropriate options, it can also remove directories and their contents recursively. However, caution is advised while using `rm` as deleted files are not sent to a trash or recycle bin, and recovery might be difficult. Incorrect usage can lead to irreversible data loss, so users should be careful and double-check the files they intend to delete. It is recommended to use the `-i` (interactive) option or create backups before using the `rm` command extensively.
NAME
rm - remove files or directories
SYNOPSIS
rm [OPTION]... FILE...
DESCRIPTION
This manual page documents the GNU version of rm. 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 --interac‐
tive=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
Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).
-f, --force
ignore nonexistent files and arguments, 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
-d, --dir
remove empty directories
-v, --verbose
explain what is being done
--help display this help and exit
--version
output version information and exit
By default, rm does not remove directories. Use the --recursive (-r or
-R) option to remove each listed directory, too, along with all of its
contents.
To remove a file whose name starts with a '-', for example '-foo', use
one of these commands:
rm -- -foo
rm ./-foo
Note that if you use rm to remove a file, it might be possible to
recover some of its contents, given sufficient expertise and/or time.
For greater assurance that the contents are truly unrecoverable, con‐
sider using shred.
GNU coreutils online help: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
Report rm translation bugs to <http://translationproject.org/team/>
AUTHOR
Written by Paul Rubin, David MacKenzie, Richard M. Stallman, and Jim
Meyering.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU
GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
SEE ALSO
unlink(1), unlink(2), chattr(1), shred(1)
The full documentation for rm is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If
the info and rm programs are properly installed at your site, the com‐
mand
info coreutils 'rm invocation'
should give you access to the complete manual.
GNU coreutils 8.22 April 2018 RM(1)