How to delete and remove files on Ubuntu Linux

I am a new Ubuntu Linux user. How do I delete and remove a file on Ubuntu 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 Ubuntu Linux. This page shows how to delete and remove files on Ubuntu Linux.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Command to delete and remove files on Ubuntu Linux

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

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

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

Delete multiple files

Type the following command to delete the file named dellLaptopSerials.txt, tom.txt, and dance.jpg located in the current directory:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm dellLaptopSerials.txt tom.txt dance.jpg
You can specify path too. If a file named dellLaptopSerials.txt located in /tmp/ directory, you can run:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm /tmp/dellLaptopSerials.txt
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm /tmp/dellLaptopSerials.txt /home/vivek/dance.jpg /home/vivek/data/tom.txt

Ubuntu 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 Ubuntu Linux:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -i fileNameHere
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -i dellLaptopSerials.txt

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

Pass the -v option as follows to get verbose output on Ubuntu Linux box:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -v fileNameHere
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -v cake-day.jpg

Ubuntu Linux delete all files in folder or directory

You need to pass the following options:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -rf dir1
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -rf /path/to/dir/
vivek@nixcraft:~$ 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 Ubuntu Linux.

Ubuntu 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:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -- -fileNameHere
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -- --fileNameHere
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -rf --DirectoryNameHere
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm ./-file
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -rf ./--DirectoryNameHere

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

rm -rf (variously, rm -rf /, rm -rf *, and others) is frequently used in jokes and anecdotes about Ubuntu 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 Ubuntu Linux:
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -rf /
vivek@nixcraft:~$ rm -rf *

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	CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04