How to use the rm command under linux

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 link is 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 (for example, execute rm * -rf in / (root directory) ). Therefore, before we execute rm, it is best to confirm which directory we are in and what we want to delete, and keep a clear mind during the operation.

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 restore the file to its original state.

3. Command parameters:
-f, --force Ignore files that do not exist and never give a prompt.
-i, --interactive Perform interactive deletion
-r, -r, --recursive Instruct rm to recursively delete all directories and subdirectories listed in the parameters.
-v, --verbose Display the steps in detail
--help Display this help message and exit
--version Output the version information and exit

4. Command example:

Example 1: To delete the file file, the system will first ask whether to delete it.
Command:
rm file name

Copy code The code is as follows:

[root@localhost test1]# ll总计 4-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 56 10-26 14:31 log.logtest1]# rm log.logrm：是否删除 一般文件 “log.log”? ytest1]# ll总计 0[root@localhost test1]#
说明：输入rm log.log命令后，系统会询问是否删除，输入y后就会删除文件，不想删除则数据n。
实例二：强行删除file，系统不再提示。命令：rm -f log1.log

Copy code The code is as follows:

[root@localhost test1]# ll
总计 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23 10-26 14:40 log1.log
[root@localhost test1]# rm -f log1.log
[root@localhost test1]# ll
总计 0[root@localhost test1]#

Example 3: Delete any. log files; ask for confirmation one by one before deleting
Command:

rm -i *.log

Copy code The code is as follows:

[root@localhost test1]# ll
总计 8
-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：是否删除 一般文件 “log1.log”? y
rm：是否删除 一般文件 “log2.log”? y
[root@localhost test1]# ll
总计 0[root@localhost test1]#

Example 4: Delete the test1 subdirectory and all files in the subdirectory
Command:

rm -r test1

Copy code The code is as follows:

[root@localhost test]# ll
总计 24drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scf
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：是否进入目录 “test1”? y
rm：是否删除 一般文件 “test1/log3.log”? y
rm：是否删除 目录 “test1”? y
[root@localhost test]# ll
总计 20drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scf
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: The rm -rf test2 command will delete the test2 subdirectory and all files in the subdirectory without a single Once confirmed
Command:

rm -rf  test2

Copy code The code is as follows:

[root@localhost test]# rm -rf test2
[root@localhost test]# ll
总计 16drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scf
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 files starting with -f
Command:

rm -- -f

Copy code The code is as follows:

[root@localhost test]# touch -- -f
[root@localhost test]# ls -- -f
-f[root@localhost test]# rm -- -f
rm：是否删除 一般空文件 “-f”? y
[root@localhost test]# ls -- -f
ls: -f: 没有那个文件或目录
[root@localhost test]#
也可以使用下面的操作步骤:
[root@localhost test]# touch ./-f
[root@localhost test]# ls ./-f
./-f[root@localhost test]# rm ./-f
rm：是否删除 一般空文件 “./-f”? y
[root@localhost test]#

Example 7: Customize the recycle bin function
Command:

myrm(){ d=/tmp/$(date +%y%m%d%h%m%s); mkdir -p $d; mv "$@" $d && echo "moved to $d ok"; }

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 1.log 2.log 3.log
[root@localhost test]# ll
总计 16
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    0 10-26 15:08 1.log
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    0 10-26 15:08 2.log
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    0 10-26 15:08 3.log
drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scf
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 [123].log
moved to /tmp/20121026150901 ok
[root@localhost test]# ll
总计 16drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 scf
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]# ls /tmp/20121026150901/
1.log  2.log  3.log
[root@localhost test]#

Description:
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.

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