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:

1. Open the Alpine terminal application (bash shell)
2. Type any one of the following command to delete a file named debra.doc in the current directory
3. 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