How to use the rm command in Linux

2023-02-18 21:53:12

This article mainly introduces how to use the rm command in Linux. In daily operations, I believe that many people have doubts about the usage of the rm command in Linux. The easy-to-use method of operation, I hope it will help you to answer your doubts about how to use the rm command in Linux! Next, please follow the editor to learn together!rm is a commonly used command. The function of this command is to delete one or more files or directories in a directory. It can also delete a directory and all files and subdirectories under it. For linked files, only the links are deleted, and the original files remain unchanged.rm is a dangerous command. Be careful when using it, especially for novices, otherwise the entire system will be destroyed by this command (such as executing rm * -rf in / (root directory)). Therefore, before executing rm, we'd better confirm which directory we are in, what exactly we want to delete, and keep a clear mind when operating.1. Command format:rm [option] file...2. Command function:Delete one or more files or directories in a directory. If the -r option is not used, rm will not delete the directory. If you use rm to delete a file, you can usually still get the file back.3. Command parameters:-f, --force Ignore files that do not exist, never give a prompt. -i, --interactive delete interactively -r, -r, --recursive instructs rm to delete all directories and subdirectories listed in the parameters recursively. -v, --verbose Display the steps in detail --help Display this help information and exit --version Output version information and exit4. Example of the command:Example 1: delete the file file, the system will first ask whether to delete it. Command:rm filenameOutput:Copy code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test1]# ll Total 4Copy code The code is as follows:-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 56 10-26 14:31 log.log root@localhost test1]# rm log.log rm: Do you want to delete the general file log.log? yCopy code The code is as follows:root@localhost test1]# ll Total 0[root@localhost test1]#Explanation:After entering the rm log.log command, the system will ask whether to delete the file. After entering y, the file will be deleted.Example 2: Forcibly delete the file, the system will no longer prompt. Command:Copy the code The code is as follows:rm -f log1.log Output :Copy code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test1]# ll Total 4Copy code The code is as follows:-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23 10-26 14:40 log1.log [root@localhost test1]# rm -f log1.log [root@localhost test1]# ll Total 0[root@localhost test1]#Example 3: delete any .log file; Ask for confirmation one by one before deletingCommand:rm -i *.logOutput:Copy Code Code As follows:[root@localhost test1]# ll Total 8Copy code The code is as follows:- rw-r--r-- 1 root root 11 10-26 14:45 log1.log -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 24 10-26 14:45 log2.log [root@localhost test1]# rm -i *.log rm: whether to delete the general file log1.log? yrm: whether to delete the general file log2 .log? y[root@localhost test1]# llTotal 0[root@localhost test1]#ExampleFour: Delete the test1 subdirectory and all files in the subdirectoryCommand:Copy code The code is as follows:rm -r test1 Output:Copy the code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# ll Total 24drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scfCopy code The code is as follows:drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-26 14: 51 test1 drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:44 test2 drwxrwxrwx 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4 drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5 [root@localhost test]# rm -r test1 rm: Do you want to enter the directory test1? yrm: Do you delete the general file test1/log3.log? yrm: Do you want to delete the directory test1? yCopy code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# ll Total 20drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18: 07 scfCopy code The code is as follows:drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:44 test2 drwxrwxrwx 2 root root 4096 10-25 17 :46 test3 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4 drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5 [root@ localhost test]# Example 5: rThe m -rf test2 command will delete the test2 subdirectory and all files in the subdirectory, and there is no need to confirm one by oneCommand:Copy code The code is as follows:p>rm -rf test2 Output:Copy the code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# rm - rf test2 [root@localhost test]# ll total 16drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scf Copy code The code is as follows:drwxrwxrwx 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4 drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5 [root@localhost test]# Example 6: Delete starting with -f Command:rm -- -fOutput:Copy code The code is as follows:p>[root@localhost test]# touch -- -f [root@localhost test]# ls -- -f -f[root@localhost test]# rm -- - f rm: Do you want to delete the general empty file -f? yCopy the code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# ls -- -f ls: -f: No such file or directoryCopy the code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test] # You can also use the following steps:Copy the code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# touch ./- f [root@localhost test]# ls ./-f ./-f[root@localhost test]# rm ./-f rm: whether to delete general empty files./-f? yCopy code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# Example 7: Custom recycle bin functionCommand:Copy code The code is as follows:myrm(){ d=/tmp/$(date +%y%m%d%h%m%s); mkdir -p $d; mv "$@ " $d && echo "moved to $d ok"; } Output:Copy code The code is as follows:[root@localhost test]# myrm(){ d=/tmp/$(date +%y%m%d%h%m%s); mkdir -p $d; mv "$@" $d && echo "moved to $d ok"; } [root@localhost test]# alias rm='myrm' [root@localhost test]# touch .log .log .log [root@localhost test]# ll Total -rw-r--r-- root root - : .log -rw-r--r-- root root - : .log -rw -r--r-- root root - : .log drwxr-xr-x root root - : scf drwxrwxrwx root root - : test drwxr-xr-x root root - : test drwxr-xr-x root root - : test [root@localhost test]# rm [].log moved to /tmp/ ok [root@localhost test ]# ll Total drwxr-xr-x root root - : scf drwxrwxrwx root root - : test drwxr-xr-x root root - : test drwxr-xr- x rootroot - : test [root@localhost test]# ls /tmp// .log .log .log [root@localhost test]# Explanation:The above operation process simulates the effect of the recycle bin, that is, when deleting a file, it just puts the file in a temporary directory, so that it can be restored when needed.Let’s give you a detailed introduction to the name: rm commandUsage authority: any user Usage method: rm [options] name ... Description: Delete files and directories. Parameters: -i Ask for confirmation one by one before deleting. -f Even if the original file attribute is set to read-only, it will be deleted directly without confirmation one by one. -r deletes the directory and the following files one by one. Example: Delete any c language program files; ask for confirmation one by one before deleting: rm -i *.c Delete the finished subdirectory and any files in the subdirectory: rm -r finished Function description: delete files or directories. Syntax: rm [-dfirv][--help][--version][document or directory...] Additional instructions: Execute the rm command to delete files or directories. If you want to delete a directory, you must add the parameter "-r", otherwise only files will be deleted by default.Parameters: -d or --directory directly delete the hard link data of the directory to be deleted to 0, delete the directory . -f or --force Forcefully delete files or directories. -i or --interactive Ask the user before deleting an existing file or directory. -r or -r or --recursive Recursive processing, processing any documents and subdirectories under the specified directory together. -v or --verbose Display the execution process of the instruction. --help Online help. --version Display version information

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How to use the rm command in Linux

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