Easy Way To Remove Directory in Linux

In Linux remove directory is a common task, and it can be done easily using the rmdir or rm command. In this guide, we’ll explore the easy way to remove a directory in Linux using these commands. Additionally, we’ll cover some essential options and precautions to ensure a smooth and secure directory removal process.

How to Remove Directory in Linux?

There are two Linux commands you can use to remove a directory from the terminal window or command line:

• The rm command removes complete directories, including sub-directories and files.
• The rmdir command removes empty directories.

Using rmdir:

The rmdir command is specifically designed for removing empty directories. Here’s the basic syntax:

rmdir [directory_name]

Replace [directory_name] with the name of the directory you want to remove. If the directory is not empty, the rmdir command will display an error.

Using rm:

The rm command is more versatile and can be used to remove both files and directories. To remove a directory and its contents, you can use the -r (or -R) option:

rm -r [directory_name]

Again, here replace [directory_name] with the actual name of the directory you want to remove. Be cautious when using rm -r, as it will delete the directory and all its contents recursively.

Additional Options:

1.Interactive Mode (-i):

To prompt for confirmation before removing each file or directory, use the -i option with rm:

rm -ri [directory_name]

rm -rf [directory_name]