How to remove multiple files using wildcards in Linux?

Introduction

Navigating the Linux file system can be a powerful skill, and one of the most useful techniques is the use of wildcards for file management. In this tutorial, we will explore how to leverage wildcards to remove multiple files simultaneously, making your workflow more efficient and productive.

Skills Graph

Understanding Linux Wildcards

Linux wildcards, also known as shell wildcards or globbing patterns, are special characters used to match and select multiple files or directories based on a pattern. These wildcards allow you to perform various file operations, such as copying, moving, or deleting, on a group of files that match the specified pattern.

The most commonly used wildcards in Linux are:

Wildcard Characters

• *: Matches any number of characters, including zero characters.
• ?: Matches a single character.
• []: Matches any one of the characters enclosed within the brackets.

Wildcard Usage

Wildcards can be used in various file operations, such as:

• Listing files: ls *.txt
• Copying files: cp *.jpg backup/
• Moving files: mv *.pdf documents/
• Deleting files: rm *.log

Wildcard Expansion

When you use a wildcard in a command, the shell expands the pattern and replaces it with the matching filenames before executing the command. This process is known as wildcard expansion.

For example, the command rm *.txt will expand to rm file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt (or any other matching files) before the rm command is executed.

Understanding the behavior and usage of Linux wildcards is essential for efficient file management and automation tasks.

Removing Multiple Files with Wildcards

Removing multiple files using wildcards in Linux is a powerful and efficient way to manage your file system. By leveraging the power of wildcards, you can quickly and easily delete a group of files that match a specific pattern.

Removing Files with the rm Command

The rm (remove) command is used to delete files and directories in Linux. To remove multiple files using wildcards, you can simply append the wildcard pattern to the rm command.

For example, to remove 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.

Wildcard Removal Techniques

1. Removing files with the * wildcard:

   rm *.jpg

   This will remove all files with the .jpg extension in the current directory.

2. Removing files with the ? wildcard:

   rm file?.txt

   This will remove all files with names like file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt, etc.

3. Removing files with the [] wildcard:

   rm file[1-5].txt

   This will remove all files with names like file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt, file4.txt, and file5.txt.

4. Removing files with the ! negation:

   rm !(*jpg|*png)

   This will remove all files in the current directory except those with the .jpg or .png extension.

Remember to always double-check the wildcard pattern to ensure you're deleting the correct files. It's also a good practice to use the -i (interactive) option with the rm command to confirm the deletion of each file.

Wildcard Removal Techniques and Examples

In this section, we will explore various techniques and examples for removing multiple files using wildcards in Linux.

Wildcard Removal Techniques

1. Removing files with the * wildcard:

   rm *.txt

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

2. Removing files with the ? wildcard:

   rm file?.jpg

   This command will remove all files with names like file1.jpg, file2.jpg, file3.jpg, etc.

3. Removing files with the [] wildcard:

   rm report[1-5].docx

   This command will remove all files with names like report1.docx, report2.docx, report3.docx, report4.docx, and report5.docx.

4. Removing files with the ! negation:

   rm !(*jpg|*png)

   This command will remove all files in the current directory except those with the .jpg or .png extension.

Examples

1. Removing all .txt files in the current directory:

   rm *.txt

2. Removing all files starting with "report" and ending with ".docx":

   rm report*.docx

3. Removing all files with names like "file1.jpg", "file2.jpg", "file3.jpg", etc.:

   rm file?.jpg

4. Removing all files with names like "doc1.txt", "doc2.txt", "doc3.txt", etc.:

   rm doc[1-3].txt

5. Removing all files in the current directory except those with the .png extension:

   rm !(*png)

Remember to always double-check the wildcard pattern to ensure you're deleting the correct files. It's also a good practice to use the -i (interactive) option with the rm command to confirm the deletion of each file.

Summary

Mastering the use of wildcards in Linux is a valuable skill that can significantly improve your file management capabilities. By understanding the concepts and techniques covered in this tutorial, you will be able to confidently and efficiently remove multiple files with ease, saving you time and effort in your daily Linux operations.