You need to use the rm command to remove files or directories (also known as folders) recursively. The rmdir command removes only empty directories. So you need to use rm command to delete folder recursively under Linux.
rm command syntax to delete directories recursively
The syntax is as follows:
| Tutorial details | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Root privileges | No |
| Requirements | None |
| Est. reading time | 2m |
rm -r dirName
## OR ##
rm -r folderName
## OR ##
rm -rf folderNameDid you know?
Everything is a file in Linux and Unix-like systems. In other words, your pictures, documents, directories/folders, SSD/hard-drives, NIC, USB devices, keyboards, printers, and some network communications all are files.
Examples that examples how to delete folder recursively
In this example, recursively delete data folder in the current home directory:
rm -r /home/vivek/data/
The specified /home/vivek/data/ will first be emptied of any subdirectories including their subdirectories and files and then data directory removed. The user is prompted for removal of any write-protected files in the directories unless the -f (force) option is given on command line:
rm -rf dirname-here
OR
rm -r -f /path/to/folder/
To remove a folder whose name starts with a -, for example ‘--dsaatia‘, use one of these commands:
rm -rf -- --dsaatia
OR
rm -rf ./--dsaatia
We can add the -v option to see verbose outputs. In other words, the rm command will explain what is being done to our files and folders on Linux. For instance:
rm -rfv /path/to/dir1
rm -r -f -v /home/vivek/oldpartpics
Removing folders with names containing strange characters
Your folders and files may have while spaces, semicolons, backslashes and other chracters in Linux. For example:
ls -l
Let us say we have a folder named “Our Sales Data” and “baddir#” or “dir2 ;#“. So how do we delete those directories with special names containing strange characters? The answer is simple. We try to enclose our troublesome filename or folder name in quotes. For example:
rm 'Our Sales Data'
rm -rfv '/path/to/Dir 1 ;'
rm -r -f -v "baddir#"
rm a\ long \dir1 \name
Sometimes, we need insert a backslash ( \ ) before the meta-character in your filename or folder name:
rm \$dir1
Deleting folder recursively command summary
| Command and options | Description |
|---|---|
| -f | Forceful option. Ignore nonexistent files and arguments, never prompt |
| -r | remove directories and their contents recursively |
| -v | Verbose output |
| rm -- '-dir1' | Remove a dir/file whoes name start with a ‘-‘ |
| rm ./-dir1 | Same as above |
| rm -rfv 'dir name here' | Enclose your troublesome filename/folder in quotes |
| rm -rfv \$dirname1 | Same as above |
See Linux rm(1) command man page or rm command example page for more information:
man rm
rm --help
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| Category | List of Unix and Linux commands |
|---|---|
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| File Management | cat |
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| Network Utilities | NetHogs • dig • host • ip • nmap |
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| Package Manager | apk • apt |
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| Searching | grep • whereis • which |
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| WireGuard VPN | Alpine • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04 |
What is the significance of -r in the code ?
rm -r dirnamewhat is the difference in using -rf and -r ?
You can combine -f, -i, -v and all other such options per your needs. we can see a list of all options by running bash command
rm --help# rm -r dirNameon centos ask every file to be deleted
you have to use “rm -rf dirName” if you not want that system ask you every file to be deleted
Thank you very much.
Thanks. Great article.
I have a question. How can I delete all subfolders /wp-content/cache/* in all folders in /home/ directory?
cd into /home/
cd /home/ls -l
Then go to /wp-content/cache/:
cd /wp-content/cache/rm -rfv *