How to delete a directory in linux

Method to delete a directory: 1. Use the rmdir command, with the syntax "rmdir directory name"; 2. Use the rm command, with the syntax "rm -rf directory name/"; 3. Use the find command, with the syntax "find. -type d -name "directory name" -exec rm -rf {}".

#The operating environment of this tutorial: linux5.9.8 system, Dell G3 computer.

There are many ways to delete a directory in Linux. You can use the file manager in the graphical interface or delete it through the terminal. This article will introduce the use of commands in the text interface to delete directories.

Use rmdir to delete a directory

The Rmdir command is changed to "remove directory", a command used to delete empty directories.

For example, delete an empty directory named "MyDocuments":

[root@localhost test]# rmdir MyDocuments

If the directory is not empty, an error will be prompted:

rmdir: failed to remove ‘MyDocuments’: Directory not empty

Use the rm command to delete a directory

The rm command is usually used to delete files in Linux. Parameters can be added to delete directories. For example, to delete a directory recursively, use the recursive option -r or -R. If the directory is write-protected, you will be prompted whether to continue deleting the directory and the files in the directory as a whole. -f Forces deletion without prompting.

[root@localhost test]# rm -rf MyDocuments/

# Multiple directories can be deleted in a single command, as shown in the command below. Command deletes all directories and their subdirectories without prompting for deletion.

[root@localhost test]# rm -rf dir1 dir2 dir3

Use the find command

The Find command helps users search for files and directories based on specific expressions. Additionally, this command can be used to search directories and delete them based on specified search criteria.

Delete the directory named "MyDocuments" in the current directory

[root@localhost test]# find . -type d -name "MyDocuments" -exec rm -rf {} +

• ##. Indicates that execution in the current directory

• -type d only searches the directory

• -name specifies the directory Name

• -exec rm -rf Execute the rm command to delete all directories and their contents

• ##{}

  Append to the end of the rm command

Delete an empty directory

If you want to delete all empty directories, use the following command:

[root@localhost test]# find . -type d -empty -delete

• -empty

  Only limit empty directories

• -delete

  Delete all empty directories including subdirectories

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