How do I empty a directory (delete all files) under Linux / Unix without deleting directory itself?
You can use the following commands:
[a] rm command – Delete one or more files or directories.
[b] find command – Find and delete all files from a specific directory.
Linux Empty Directory Using the rm Command
Consider the following directory structure:
/tmp/ | |------foo/ |---file1 |---file2 |---file3
To delete all files from /tmp/foo/ directory (i.e. empty /tmp/foo/ directory), enter:
$ cd /tmp/foo/
$ rm *
OR
$ rm /tmp/foo/*
Delete All Files Using the Find Command
Consider the following directory structure:
/tmp/ | |------bar/ | |---file1.txt |---file2.txt | |---subdir1/ | |---file1.doc | |---file2.doc | |---subdir2/ |---image1.jpg |---image2.png
To delete all files from /tmp/bar/ directory (including all files from subdirectories such as /tmp/bar/dir1), enter:
$ cd /tmp/bar/
$ find . -type f -delete
OR
$ find /tmp/bar/ -type f -delete
The above find command will delete all files from /tmp/bar/ directory. It will not delete any sub-directories.
9 comment
How about:
rm -R /tmp/foo/*
To delete all files and subfolders?
Hmm.. it is not about deleting subfolders. Just remove all files from all directories including subdirectories.
It’s a nice addition, though. It was exactly what I needed: this page was the first to show up when I googled “linux command empty folder”
Exaclty what I needed thanks. This works perfectly in a deploy script to clear the cache directories, on a push or pull.
For example if you use cakephp:
git pull origin master
find app/tmp/ -type f -delete
and your good to go!
Thanks
Also what I was looking for but I have to confirm that I really want to remove all the files one by one.
I found something to set this off with rmstarsilent or summat but it does not work. Any hint ?
rm -rf /tmp/foo/*
just add f option tu force delete the files.
rm -fR /tmp/foo/
Thanks, it really helps !
I got it. what i need.. thx