| Linux / Unix Command: rm |
NAME
rm - remove files or directoriesSYNOPSIS
rm [OPTION]... FILE...EXAMPLES
DESCRIPTION
This manual page documents the GNU version of rm. rm removes each specified file. By default, it does not remove directories. If a file is unwritable, the standard input is a tty, and the -f or --force option is not given, rm prompts the user for whether to remove the file. If the response does not begin with `y' or `Y', the file is skipped.OPTIONS
Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).
- -d, --directory
- unlink FILE, even if it is a non-empty directory (super-user only)
- -f, --force
- ignore nonexistent files, never prompt
- -i, --interactive
- prompt before any removal
- -r, -R, --recursive
- remove the contents of directories recursively
- -v, --verbose
- explain what is being done
- --help
- display this help and exit
- --version
- output version information and exit
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 is usually possible to recover the contents of that file. If you want more assurance that the contents are truly unrecoverable, consider using shred.
SEE ALSO
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 command
- info rm
should give you access to the complete manual.
Important: Use the man command (% man) to see how a command is used on your particular computer.
