I know this might sound trivial, but sometimes I forget it, or I struggle to remember exactly what I am doing.
If you want to remove a file, the command is quite simple. Just use rm. For example, the command below simply removes the file.
rm a-file.txtIf you try the same command with a folder, you’ll likely get this error.
rm: a-folder: is a directory
When it comes to deleting a directory, it’s essential to use the correct command. In this case, you’ll need to add the -r option to the rm command. This option is crucial as it tells the system to delete the directory and all its contents. Here’s an example to illustrate this:
rm -r a-folder
The r stands for recursive.
If you find that your deleting request is being denied, you can use the ‘-f’ option to force the deletion. However, be extremely cautious when using this option. It stands for ‘force,’ and it will delete files and directories without asking for confirmation. If you use this command in the wrong folder, you could lose data irretrievably. Only use the ‘-f’ option if you are sure of what you are doing.
Adding such an option turns the command, as you can see below.
rm -rf a-folder