Removing Files (rm)

The rm command removes files and directories. It's powerful but dangerous - deleted files don't go to a trash bin.

Basic Usage

rm filename

Important Warning

rm is permanent! Unlike graphical file managers, rm doesn't use a trash bin. Deleted files are gone forever.

Always:

• Double-check before pressing Enter
• Use -i when unsure
• Avoid rm -rf / at all costs

rm Options

Option	Description
-i	Interactive (prompt before each removal)
-r	Recursive (remove directories)
-f	Force (ignore nonexistent, no prompt)
-v	Verbose (show files being removed)
-d	Remove empty directories

Removing Directories

Use -r for directories:

rm -r directory_name

The Dangerous -rf Flag

rm -rf removes everything without prompting:

rm -rf folder/      # Removes folder and all contents

Use with extreme caution! Many system disasters start with rm -rf.

Exercise: Remove a File

Remove a file you create:

Safe Removal Practices

Always Use Interactive Mode

rm -i important_file.txt
# rm: remove regular file 'important_file.txt'?

Check Before Removing

ls file_to_delete.txt    # Verify it exists
rm file_to_delete.txt    # Then remove

Use Verbose Mode

rm -v *.log
# removed 'app.log'
# removed 'error.log'

Removing Multiple Files

rm file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt
rm *.tmp                  # All .tmp files
rm -r old_backups/        # Directory and contents

What NOT to Do

# NEVER run these:
rm -rf /                  # Destroys system
rm -rf ~                  # Destroys home directory
rm -rf *                  # Dangerous in wrong directory

Alternatives to rm

Move to Trash (safer)

# Create a trash function
mv file.txt ~/.trash/

Use trash-cli

trash-put file.txt       # Moves to trash
trash-list               # Lists trash
trash-restore            # Restores files

Troubleshooting

Error	Cause	Solution
Is a directory	Using rm without -r	Use rm -r or rmdir
Permission denied	No write access	Check permissions
No such file	File doesn't exist	Check spelling

Key Takeaways

• rm permanently removes files (no trash!)
• Use -r for directories
• Always double-check before using -rf
• Use -i for interactive confirmation
• Consider safer alternatives for important files