rm command syntax to delete directories recursively

The syntax is as follows:
rm -r dirName

OR

rm -r folderName

OR

rm -rf folderName

Examples

In this example, recursively delete data folder:

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

See Linux rm(1) command man page or rm command example page for more information.