rm Command Guide for Moving and Renaming Files

This guide explains how to use the rm (remove) command to delete files and directories safely in Unix-like systems.

What is rm, and Why Use It?

The rm command is used to delete files or directories permanently from the file system.

Why Learn rm?

• Free up space by removing unnecessary files
• Clean up scripts, logs, or temporary data
• Essential for file management in any Unix/Linux system

⚠️ Warning: rm does not move files to the trash — it deletes them immediately. Use it with care.

1. Remove a Single File

rm file.txt

• Deletes file.txt from the current directory.

2. Remove Multiple Files

rm file1.txt file2.txt

• Deletes both files at once.

3. Prompt Before Deleting (Safer)

rm -i file.txt

• -i (interactive) asks for confirmation before each deletion.

4. Remove a Directory and Its Contents

rm -r my_folder/

• -r (recursive) deletes the folder and all files/subfolders inside it.

5. Force Delete Without Prompt

rm -rf some_folder/

• -f (force) skips confirmation.
• -r ensures folders and their contents are deleted.

⚠️ Only use rm -rf when you're absolutely sure — it cannot be undone.

6. Verbose Mode (Show What’s Being Deleted)

rm -v file.txt

• -v (verbose) prints each file as it's removed.

Remove Cheatsheet

For safer usage, many users create an alias like alias rm='rm -i' to avoid accidents. Always double-check what you're removing — especially with wildcards like * or recursive flags.