One Linux command per day (5): RM command

Yesterday I learned the command to create files and directories mkdir, today learn about the commands for deleting files and directories in Linux: RM command. RM is a commonly used command that removes one or more files or directories from a directory, and it can delete all files and subdirectories under a directory. For linked files, only the links are deleted and the original files remain unchanged.

RM is a dangerous command, especially when used, especially for novices, or the entire system will be destroyed in this command (e.g., RM *-rf under/(root directory)). So, before we execute RM, it's a good idea to check in which directory, exactly what to delete, and keep a high level of sanity in the operation.

1. Command format:

RM [Options] File ...

2. Command function:

Delete one or more files or directories in a directory, and RM does not delete the directory if the-r option is not used. If you use RM to delete a file, you can usually still restore the file to its original state.

3. Command parameters:

-F,--force ignores nonexistent files and never gives hints.

-I,--interactive for interactive deletion

-R,-R,--recursive instructs RM to delete all directories and subdirectories listed in the parameters recursively.

-V,--verbose detailed display of the steps performed

--HELP Display this help message and exit

--version output version information and exit

4. Command instance:

Instance one: Delete file, the system will first ask whether to delete.

Command:

RM file Name

Output:

[email protected] test1]# LL

Total 4

-rw-r--r--1 root root 10-26 14:31 log.log

[Email protected] test1]# RM log.log

RM: Do you want to delete the generic file "Log.log"? Y

[email protected] test1]# LL

Total 0[[email protected] test1]#

Description

After entering the RM log.log command, the system asks whether to delete the file after entering Y, and does not want to delete the data n.

Example two: Forcibly delete file, the system no longer prompt.

Command:

Rm-f Log1.log

Output:

[email protected] test1]# LL

Total 4

-rw-r--r--1 root root 10-26 14:40 Log1.log

[Email protected] test1]# rm-f Log1.log

[email protected] test1]# LL

Total 0[[email protected] test1]#

Example three: Delete any. log file, ask for confirmation before deleting

Command:

Rm-i *.log

Output:

[email protected] test1]# LL

Total 8

-rw-r--r--1 root root one 10-26 14:45 log1.log

-rw-r--r--1 root root 10-26 14:45 Log2.log

[Email protected] test1]# rm-i *.log

RM: Do you want to delete the generic file "Log1.log"? Y

RM: Do you want to delete the generic file "Log2.log"? Y

[email protected] test1]# LL

Total 0[[email protected] test1]#

Example four: Delete all the files in the Test1 subdirectory and subdirectories

Command:

Rm-r test1

Output:

[email protected] test]# LL

Total 24drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 SCF

Drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-26 14:51 test1

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:44 test2

DRWXRWXRWX 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3

Drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5

[Email protected] test]# rm-r test1

RM: Do you want to enter the directory "Test1"? Y

RM: Do you want to delete the generic file "Test1/log3.log"? Y

RM: Do you want to delete the directory "Test1"? Y

[email protected] test]# LL

Total 20drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 SCF

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:44 test2

DRWXRWXRWX 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3

Drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5

[Email protected] test]#

Example five: The RM-RF test2 command will delete all files in the Test2 subdirectory and subdirectories without one by one confirmation

Command:

RM-RF test2

Output:

[Email protected] test]# RM-RF test2

[email protected] test]# LL

Total 16drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 SCF

DRWXRWXRWX 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3

Drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5

[Email protected] test]#

Example six: Delete a file that begins with-F

Command:

RM---F

Output:

[[email protected] test]# touch---F

[[email protected] test]# ls---f

-f[[email protected] test]# RM---F

RM: Do you want to delete the generic empty file "-F"? Y

[[email protected] test]# ls---f

LS:-F: No file or directory

[Email protected] test]#

You can also use the following procedure:

[[email protected] test]# touch./-f

[[email protected] test]# ls./-f

./-f[[email protected] test]# rm./-f

RM: Delete the generic empty file "./-f"? Y

[Email protected] test]#

Example seven: Customizing the Recycle Bin Feature

Command:

Myrm () {d=/tmp/$ (date +%y%m%d%h%m%s), Mkdir-p $D, MV "[email protected]" $D && echo "moved to $D OK";}

Output:

[Email protected] test]# Myrm () {d=/tmp/$ (date +%y%m%d%h%m%s); Mkdir-p $D; MV "[email protected]" $D && echo "moved to $D OK"; }

[[email protected] test]# alias rm= ' Myrm '

[[email protected] test]# Touch 1.log 2.log 3.log

[email protected] test]# LL

Total 16

-rw-r--r--1 root root 0 10-26 15:08 1.log

-rw-r--r--1 root root 0 10-26 15:08 2.log

-rw-r--r--1 root root 0 10-26 15:08 3.log

Drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 SCF

DRWXRWXRWX 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3

Drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5

[Email protected] test]# RM [123].log

Moved to/tmp/20121026150901 OK

[email protected] test]# LL

Total 16drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 10-25 18:07 SCF

DRWXRWXRWX 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:46 test3

Drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test4

Drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 10-25 17:56 test5

[Email protected] test]# ls/tmp/20121026150901/

1.log 2.log 3.log

[Email protected] test]#

Description

The above procedure simulates the effect of the Recycle Bin, that is, when deleting a file, simply place the file in a temporary directory so that it can be recovered when needed.

Resources:

http://codingstandards.iteye.com/blog/983531

One Linux command per day (5): RM command