rm command

The 'rm' means remove. This command is used to remove a file. The command line doesn't have a recycle bin or trash unlike other GUI's to recover the files. Hence, be very much careful while using this command. Once you have deleted a file, it is removed permanently.

The Figure.1. represents the remove command variation.

                            Figure.1. Representation of rm command variation

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Cheat Sheet for remove command

S.No	Remove Commands	Description
1.	rmdir dir_name	Remove one files or directory at a time
2.	rm -rf dir_name1 dir_name2 dir_name3	Remove multiple directories
3.	rm -f file_name	Remove the directory forcely
4.	rm -d dir_name	Remove the empty directory

rmdir dir_name

• "rmdir " stands for remove directory.
• with this command we can remove one directory at a time and make sure that it can't be undo.

Example: rmdir manipal_b6_dummy

The Figure.2. shows removing a directory or a file .

                      Figure.2. Usage of rmdir command .

The GIF-1 shows the whole process from sourcing scripting file till the output.

                     GIF-1: rmdir directory_name gif.

Github lab link: https://github.com/muneeb-mbytes/linux_course/blob/b7_Team_SiliconCrew/rm_commands/single_dir_rm.csh

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rm -rf dir_name1 dir_name2 dir_name3

• This command is use to delete the multiple directories .

  Example: rm -rf manipal_b5_dummy manipal_b6_dummy Here, manipal_b5_dummy and manipal_b6_dummy directories are deleted.

The Figure.3. shows how to remove multiple directories .

                     Figure.3. Usage of rm -rf command 

The GIF-2 shows the whole process from sourcing scripting file till the output.

                     GIF-2:  rm -rf directory_names command gif

Github lab link: https://github.com/muneeb-mbytes/linux_course/blob/b7_Team_SiliconCrew/rm_commands/multiple_dir_rm.csh

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rm -f file_name

• Flag "f" stands for force deletion
• If a file is write protected. The -f option overrides this minor protection and removes the file forcefully.

Note: -f option of rm command will not work for write-protect directories.

Example: rm -f myfile.txt yourfile.txt Here, files named myfile.txt and yourfile.txt both files will be deleted.

The Figure.4. shows how to remove multiple files .

                     Figure.4. Usage of rm -f command .

The GIF-3 shows the whole process from sourcing scripting file till the output.

                      GIF-3:  rm -f file_names command gif

Github lab link: https://github.com/muneeb-mbytes/linux_course/blob/b7_Team_SiliconCrew/rm_commands/file_rm.csh

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rm -d dir_name

• This command is used to delete the empty directories only.
  and To remove non-empty directories and all the files within them recursively, use the -r (recursive) option

Example: rm -d linux_basics

The Figure.5. shows how to delete empty directories .

                         Figure.5. Usage of rm -d command .

The GIF-4 shows the whole process from sourcing scripting file till the output.

                    GIF-4:  rm -d directory_names command gif  

Github lab link: https://github.com/muneeb-mbytes/linux_course/blob/b7_Team_SiliconCrew/rm_commands/empty_dir_rm.csh

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rm --help

This command gives the details of rm commands .It shows all options and use of each option .

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To learn vim and gvim command : https://github.com/muneeb-mbytes/linux_course/wiki/07.-vim_gvim-commands