How to Delete a File in Linux?

How to Delete a File in Linux?

Deleting a file in Linux is a fundamental task that can be accomplished using the rm command, which stands for "remove." Here's a step-by-step guide on how to delete a file in Linux:

1. Navigate to the Directory:

   Use the cd command to navigate to the directory containing the file you want to delete. For example, if the file is located in your home directory, you can skip this step.

2. Delete the File:

   Once you're in the directory containing the file you want to delete, use the rm command followed by the filename you wish to remove.

Using the GUI File Manager

Using a graphical user interface (GUI) file manager to delete a file in Linux is a simple procedure. Although different Linux distributions may utilize various file managers, the fundamental procedures are typically the same.

1. Locate the File & Select the File:

   Open your file manager by clicking on its icon in the applications menu or by using a desktop shortcut. Navigate to the directory where the file you want to delete is located. Click on the file to select it. It may become highlighted or appear with a different background color to indicate that it's selected.

2. Open Context Menu:

   Right-click on the selected file to open the context menu. This menu contains various options related to the selected file.

3. Choose "Delete" or "Move to Trash":

   In the context menu, you should see an option like "Delete" or "Move to Trash." Select this option.

4. Confirmation Prompt:

   After selecting "Delete" or "Move to Trash," you may be presented with a confirmation prompt. Click "OK" or "Confirm" to proceed with the deletion.

5. File Deletion:

   The file will then be deleted by the file manager. The file may be transferred to a "Trash" or "Recycle Bin" directory depending on your system and file manager. Normally, files in the trash can be recovered if necessary.

Using the rm Command

The primary tool for deleting files in Linux is the rm command, which stands for "remove." This command offers various options to help you tailor the deletion process according to your needs.

1. Deleting a Single File

   To delete a single file, open your terminal and type:

   Replace the filename with the name of the file you want to delete. For instance, to delete a file named "example.txt":

2. Deleting Multiple Files

   You can delete multiple files simultaneously by listing their names:

   For instance, if you want to delete files named "file1.txt," "file2.txt," and "file3.txt":

3. Deleting Files within a Directory

   To delete all files within a directory and its subdirectories, use the -r (or -R) flag for recursive deletion:

   For example, to remove all files within a directory named "my_folder":

4. Forceful Deletion

   If a file is write-protected or requires confirmation for deletion, you can use the -f flag to force deletion:

   For example,

   Using this flag, you can forcefully delete files without being prompted for confirmation.

Using the shred Command

By making it far more difficult to reconstruct the original content, the shred command in Linux enables you to securely remove files.

For instance, you might want to safely remove the "sensitive.txt" file from your Documents folder. Use the shred command followed by the filename you want to securely delete:

The options used in this command are:

-u: Remove the file after overwriting it.

-z: Add a final overwrite with zeros to hide shredding.

Using the trash-cli Command

To safely delete files, move them to the system's trash or recycle bin using the trash-cli command-line tool in Linux.

For instance, you could use trash-cli to remove a file called "old_document.txt" from your Documents folder.

1. Install trash-cli (if not installed):

   If you haven't already installed trash-cli, you can do so using your system's package manager. For instance, on Ubuntu-based systems:

2. Delete the File:

   Use the trash-put command followed by the filename you want to delete:

   The trash-put command moves the file to the system's trash, allowing you to potentially recover it later.

3. List Trashed Items:

   To view the items in your trash, you can use the trash-list command:

How to Remove Directories (Folders)?

Empty folders can be eliminated with the rmdir command. Directories with files or other subdirectories cannot be deleted using this method. For instance, if you wish to delete the empty "temp_folder" directory from your home directory.

To remove the Directory use the rmdir command followed by the directory name:

If the directory is empty, it will be removed.

For instance, if you wish to delete the non-empty "temporary_dir" directory from your home directory.

To remove the Directory use the rm command with -r flag followed by the directory name:

If the directory is non-empty, it will be removed.