How to Remove a Directory in Linux

In Linux, there are two commands that you can use to remove a directory: rmdir and rm. The rmdir command can only be used to remove empty directories, while the rm command can be used to remove both empty and non-empty directories.

Using the rmdir Command

To use the rmdir command to remove an empty directory, simply type the following command into the terminal:

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rmdir directory_name

For example, to remove an empty directory called my_directory, you would type the following command:

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rmdir my_directory

Using the rm Command

To use the rm command to remove a non-empty directory, you need to use the -r option. This option tells the rm command to remove the directory recursively, meaning that it will also remove all of the files and subdirectories within the directory.

The syntax for using the rm command to remove a non-empty directory is as follows:

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rm -r directory_name

For example, to remove a non-empty directory called my_directory, you would type the following command:

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rm -r my_directory

Be Careful!

It is important to be careful when using the rm command to remove directories. If you accidentally remove a directory that you did not mean to remove, there is no way to get it back.

Here are some tips for using the rm command safely:

Always use the -r option when removing non-empty directories.

Use the -i option to be prompted for confirmation before each file or directory is removed.

Use the -f option to force the removal of directories that are write-protected.

Back up your files before removing any directories.

Conclusion

This article has explained how to remove a directory in Linux using the rmdir and rm commands. Be sure to use these commands carefully, and always back up your files before removing any directories.

Additional Resources

How to Remove a Directory in Linux: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/how-to-remove-a-directory-in-linux/

The rm Command: https://www.ibm.com/docs/ssw_aix_72/r_commands/rm.html

The rmdir Command: https://www.ibm.com/docs/ssw_aix_72/r_commands/rmdir.html

How to Remove a Directory in Linux