When you are finished with a directory, you should remove it to keep your file structure neat and organized. There are two command that can be used to remove files and directories:

rm file_name(s)is used to remove files.

rmdir directory_name(s) is used to remove empty directories.

rm -r (or -R)directory_name(s)is used to remove directories that are not empty (it will also delete all of the files in the directory).

Tip: Using just the -r or (-R) option can be dangerous, because it removes everything. To protect yourself, use the -ir (or -iR) option instead. The -i option prompts you for verification before each directory and all of its contents are removed.

Examples

Use rm with no options to remove file.

$ ls
ebony ivory
$ rm ebony ivory
$ ls
$

Use the rmdir command to delete empty directories.

$ rmdir /tmp/piano
$

If you try to remove a directory that is not empty with rmdir, the command will fail.

$ ls
$ Schroeder
$ rmdir Schroeder
rmdir: Schroeder: Directory not empty
$

Use the rm -r (recursive) option to remove a directory that is not empty.

$ rm -r Schroeder
$

Use the rm -ir (recursive) option to remove a directory that is not empty and to verify which directories to delete.

$ rm -ir Woodstock
rm: descend into directory Woodstock? y
rm: remove Woodstock/bird? y
rm: remove directory Woodstock/yellow? y
rm: descend into directory Woodstock/Hero? y
rm: remove Woodstock/Hero/flight? y
rm: remove directory Woodstock/Hero? y
rm: remove directory Woodstock? y
$