Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).

-d, --directory

unlink FILE, even if it is a non-empty directory (super-user only; this works only if your system

supports `unlink' for nonempty directories)

-f, --force

ignore nonexistent files, never prompt

-i, --interactive

prompt before any removal

--no-preserve-root do not treat `/' specially (the default)

--preserve-root

fail to operate recursively on `/'

-r, -R, --recursive

remove directories and their contents recursively

-v, --verbose

explain what is being done

--help

display this help and exit

--version

output version information and exit

By default, rm does not remove directories. Use the --recursive (-r or -R) option to remove each listed directory, too, along with all of its contents.

To remove a file whose name starts with a `-', for example `-foo', use one of these commands:

rm -- -foo

rm ./-foo

Note that if you use rm to remove a file, it is usually possible to recover the contents of that file. If you want more assurance that the contents are truly unrecoverable, consider using shred.

The full documentation for rm is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and rm programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info rm

should give you access to the complete manual.