How to delete a file in Linux?

Deleting Files in Linux

In the Linux operating system, deleting a file is a straightforward process. The primary command used to delete files is rm, which stands for "remove." This command allows you to remove files from your system, whether they are individual files or entire directories.

Deleting a Single File

To delete a single file in Linux, you can use the following command:

rm filename

Replace filename with the name of the file you want to delete. For example, to delete a file named "document.txt," you would use the command:

rm document.txt

If the file is located in a different directory, you can specify the full path to the file:

rm /path/to/file/document.txt

Deleting Multiple Files

You can also delete multiple files at once by providing multiple file names or using wildcard characters. For example, to delete all files with the ".txt" extension in the current directory, you can use the following command:

rm *.txt

This command will delete all files with the ".txt" extension in the current directory.

Deleting Directories

To delete a directory and all its contents, you can use the -r (recursive) option with the rm command. This will remove the directory and all the files and subdirectories within it. For example, to delete a directory named "documents," you would use the following command:

rm -r documents

Be cautious when using the -r option, as it can permanently delete all the contents of a directory without any confirmation.

Avoiding Accidental Deletion

To prevent accidental deletion, you can use the -i (interactive) option with the rm command. This will prompt you for confirmation before deleting each file or directory. For example:

rm -i *.txt

This command will prompt you to confirm the deletion of each file with the ".txt" extension.

Conclusion

Deleting files in Linux is a straightforward process using the rm command. Remember to be cautious when deleting files, especially when using the -r option to delete directories, to avoid unintended data loss. Always double-check the files or directories you are about to delete to ensure you are removing the correct ones.