rm Cheatsheet
Quick reference for removing files and directories safely with rm in Linux
The rm command removes files and directories in Linux. This cheatsheet covers the most common rm options, safe deletion patterns, recursive removal, and practical command combinations.
Basic Syntax
Core command forms for file and directory removal.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rm [OPTIONS] FILE... | Remove one or more files |
rm -r [OPTIONS] DIRECTORY... | Remove directories recursively |
rm -- FILE | Treat argument as filename even if it starts with - |
rm -i FILE | Prompt before each removal |
Remove Files
Common file deletion commands.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rm file.txt | Remove one file |
rm file1 file2 file3 | Remove multiple files |
rm *.log | Remove files matching pattern |
rm -- -strange-filename | Remove file named with leading - |
rm -v file.txt | Remove file with verbose output |
Remove Directories
Delete directories and their contents.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rm -r dir/ | Remove directory recursively |
rm -rf dir/ | Force recursive removal without prompts |
rm -r dir1 dir2 | Remove multiple directories |
rm -r -- */ | Remove all directories in current path |
Prompt and Safety Options
Control how aggressively rm deletes files.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
rm -i file.txt | Prompt before each file removal |
rm -I file1 file2 | Prompt once before deleting many files |
rm --interactive=always file.txt | Always prompt |
rm --interactive=once *.tmp | Prompt once |
rm -f file.txt | Ignore nonexistent files, never prompt |
Useful Patterns
Frequent real-world combinations.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
find . -type f -name '*.tmp' -delete | Remove matching temporary files |
find . -type d -empty -delete | Remove empty directories |
rm -rf -- build/ dist/ | Remove common build directories |
rm -f -- *.bak *.old | Remove backup files quietly |
Troubleshooting
Quick checks for common removal errors.
| Issue | Check |
|---|---|
Permission denied | Check ownership and permissions; use sudo only when needed |
Is a directory | Add -r to remove directories |
No such file or directory | Verify path and shell glob expansion |
| Cannot remove write-protected file | Use -i for prompts or -f to force |
File name starts with - | Use rm -- filename |
Related Guides
Use these references for safer file management workflows.
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
Rm Command in Linux | Full rm guide with examples |
How to Find Files in Linux Using the Command Line | Find and target files before deleting |
Chmod Command in Linux | Fix permission errors before removal |
Linux Commands Cheatsheet | General Linux command quick reference |