I am a new CentOS Linux user. How do I delete and remove a file on CentOS Linux based system?

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 CentOS Linux. This page shows how to delete and remove files on CentOS Linux.

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Command to delete and remove files on CentOS Linux

The syntax is as follows for the rm and unlink command to remove files on CentOS Linux:

1. Open the terminal application (bash shell)
2. Type any one of the following command to delete a file named nixcraft.txt in the current directory
3. rm nixcraft.txt
   OR
   unlink nixcraft.txt

Let use see all rm command options to delete and remove files on CentOS Linux.

Delete multiple files

Type the following command to delete the file named foo.txt, bar.doc, and dance.jpg located in the current directory:
rm foo.txt bar.doc dance.jpg
You can specify path too. If a file named foo.txt located in /tmp/ directory, you can run:
rm /tmp/foo.txt
rm /tmp/foo.txt /home/vivek/dance.jpg /home/vivek/data/bar.doc


CentOS 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 CentOS Linux:
rm -i filename
rm -i foo.txt

Force rm command on CentOS Linux to explain what is being done with file

Pass the -v option as follows to get verbose output on CentOS Linux box:
rm -v filename
rm -v cake-day.jpg

Centos Linux delete all files in folder or directory

You need to pass the following options:
rm -rf dir1
rm -rf /path/to/dir/
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 CentOS Linux.

CentOS 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:
rm -- -filename
rm -- --filename
rm -rf --dirname
rm ./-file
rm -rf ./--dirname

Do not run ‘rm -rf /‘ command as an administrator/root or normal CentOS Linux user

rm -rf (variously, rm -rf /, rm -rf *, and others) is frequently used in jokes and anecdotes about CentOS 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 CentOS Linux:
rm -rf /
rm -rf *