`rm` command

Delete files and directories.

Files & directories
Package coreutils
7 options · 8 examples

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Syntax
Common options
Examples
Tips
Guides
Related commands

Syntax

rm [options] file…

Provided by the coreutils package. Run man rm for the full manual.

Common options

Option	What it does
`-r`	Remove directories and their contents
`-f`	Force: no prompts, ignore missing files
`-i`	Ask before every removal
`-I`	Ask once before removing more than 3 files
`-v`	Print each file removed
`-d`	Remove empty directories
`--preserve-root`	Refuse to remove / (default)

Examples

Delete a file
```
rm file.txt
```
Delete several files
```
rm a.txt b.txt
```
Delete all .log files here
```
rm *.log
```
Delete a directory and everything in it
```
rm -r old-project/
```
Delete without prompts
```
rm -rf build/
```
Ask before each file
```
rm -i *.conf
```
Delete a file whose name starts with a dash
```
rm -- -file.txt
```
Too many files for one command line
```
find . -name "*.tmp" -delete
```

Tips

There is no recycle bin: check paths before rm -rf.
Run ls with the same pattern first to see what will be deleted.

rm guides

(Resolved) – /bin/rm: Argument list too long Linux Commands · Updated Apr 2025

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