You need to use the rm command. It tries to remove the files specified on the command line. Use the rm command to delete files and directories on Alpine Linux. This page shows how to delete and remove files on Alpine Linux.
Command to delete and remove files on Alpine Linux
The syntax is as follows for the rm and unlink command to remove files on Alpine Linux:
- Open the Alpine terminal application (bash shell)
- Type any one of the following command to delete a file named debra.doc in the current directory
- rm debra.doc
OR
unlink debra.doc
Let use see all the rm command options to delete and remove files on Alpine Linux.
Delete multiple files
Type the following command to delete the file named dexter.jpg, rita.png, and dance.jpg located in the current directory:
alpineVM:~$ rm dexter.jpg rita.png dance.jpg
You can specify path too. If a file named dexter.jpg located in /tmp/ directory, you can run:
alpineVM:~$ rm /tmp/dexter.jpg
alpineVM:~$ rm /tmp/dexter.jpg /home/vivek/dance.jpg /home/vivek/data/rita.png
Alpine Linux delete a file and prompt before every removal
To get confirmation before attempting to remove each file pass the -i option to the rm command on Alpine Linux:
alpineVM:~$ rm -i file1
alpineVM:~$ rm -i dexter.jpg
Force rm command on Alpine Linux to explain what is being done with file
Pass the -v option as follows to get verbose output on Alpine Linux box:
alpineVM:~$ rm -v file1
alpineVM:~$ rm -v cake-day.jpg
Alpine Linux delete all files in folder or directory
You need to pass the following options:
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf dir1
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf /path/to/dir/
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf /home/vivek/oldschoolpics/
It will remove all files and subdirectories from a directory. So be careful. Always keep backups of all important data on Alpine Linux.
Alpine Linux delete file begins with a dash or hyphen
If the name of a file or directory or folder starts with a dash (- or hyphen --), use the following syntax:
alpineVM:~$ rm -- -file1
alpineVM:~$ rm -- --file1
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf --folder1
alpineVM:~$ rm ./-file
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf ./--folder1
Do not run ‘rm -rf /‘ command as an administrator/root or normal Alpine Linux user
rm -rf (variously, rm -rf /, rm -rf *, and others) is frequently used in jokes and anecdotes about Alpine Linux disasters. The rm -rf / variant of the command, if run by an administrator, would cause the contents of every writable mounted filesystem on the computer to be deleted. Do not try these commands on Alpine Linux:
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf /
alpineVM:~$ rm -rf *
Conclusion
And there you have it, the rm command which is used to delete files and directories on Alpine Linux operating systems. Please note that Alpine Linux provides busybox version of rm command. It has a limited number of options. To see all available options type the following command:
rm --help
Sample outputs:
BusyBox v1.27.2 (2018-01-29 15:48:57 GMT) multi-call binary. Usage: rm [-irf] FILE... Remove (unlink) FILEs -i Always prompt before removing -f Never prompt -R,-r Recurse
- How to delete and remove files on Fedora Linux
- How to delete and remove files on CentOS Linux
- How to delete and remove files on SUSE Enterprise Linux
- How to delete and remove files on Ubuntu Linux
- How to delete and remove files on RHEL (Red Hat) Linux
- How to delete and remove files on Arch Linux
- How to delete and remove files on Alpine Linux
- How to delete and remove files on Debian Linux
🐧 0 comments... add one ↓
Category | List of Unix and Linux commands |
---|---|
File Management | cat |
Firewall | Alpine Awall • CentOS 8 • OpenSUSE • RHEL 8 • Ubuntu 16.04 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04 |
Network Utilities | dig • host • ip • nmap |
OpenVPN | CentOS 7 • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Debian 8/9 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04 |
Package Manager | apk • apt |
Processes Management | bg • chroot • cron • disown • fg • jobs • killall • kill • pidof • pstree • pwdx • time |
Searching | grep • whereis • which |
User Information | groups • id • lastcomm • last • lid/libuser-lid • logname • members • users • whoami • who • w |
WireGuard VPN | Alpine • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04 |