rm

rm linux command cheatsheet by Thamizhiniyan C S

Introduction

The rm command is used to remove files or directories.

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Syntax

rm [OPTION]... [FILE]...

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Important Flags

Flag	Description
-f	Forces the removal of all files or directories.
-i	Prompts for confirmation before removing.
-I	Prompts once before removing more than three files or when removing recursively.
-r	Removes directories and their content recursively.
-d	Removes empty directories.
-v	Provides a verbose output.
--help	Displays the help text.
--version	Displays the command version.

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Examples

Command	Description
rm a.txt	Removing one file at a time.
rm b.txt c.txt	Removing more than one file at a time.
rm -d Example	To remove an empty directory.
rm -- [directory name]	To remove a directory whose name starts with a hyphen (-).
rm -- -file.txt	Removes a file whose name starts with a hyphen (-).
rm -r Example	To delete a directory that contains subdirectories and files (Recursive Deletion)
rm -r -v Example	To delete a directory that contains subdirectories and files (Recursive Deletion), and the -v flag to list each step of the process.
rm -r *	-r : Deletes all files and sub-directories recursively in the parent directory.
rm -i d.txt	Asks for confirmation before removing each file (Interactive Deletion).
rm -d -i Example	Use the -i option to display a prompt asking for confirmation before removing a directory.
rm -f e.txt	Overrides write protection and removes the file forcefully (Force Deletion).
rm -d Example	Remove a write-protected directory.
rm -d -f Example	To avoid confirmation when deleting a directory.
sudo rm -d Example	Elevate command privileges to remove a write-protected directory.
rm -rf	Use this command to remove a write-protected directory that contains other files and directories.
rm --version	Displays the version of rm currently running on the system.