- 1How to Create a File in Linux
- 2How to Rename a File in Linux
- 3How to Copy a File in Linux
- 4How to Move a File in Linux
- 5How to Delete a File in Linux
- 6How to Create a Directory in Linux
- 7How to Delete a Directory in Linux
- 8How to Copy Directories Recursively in Linux
- 9Delete Directories Recursively in Linux
- 10How to View Hidden Files in Linux
- 11How to Create a Hidden File in Linux
- 12How to Create a Hidden Directory in Linux
- 13How to Find Files in Linux Using find Command
- 14Find Files in Linux Using locate Command
- 15How to View File Contents Using cat in Linux
- 16How to View File Contents Using less in Linux
- 17View File Contents Using the more Command in Linux
- 18Compare Files Using diff Command in Linux
- 19Compare Files in Linux Using cmp Command
- 20Check File Type in Linux with file Command
- 21Create Symbolic Links with ln -s in Linux
- 22How to Archive Files Using tar Command in Linux
- 23Compress Files with gzip in Linux – Beginner Tutorial
- 24How to Compress Files Using bzip2 in Linux
- 25Compress Files in Linux Using zip Command
- 26Extract Compressed Files using tar in Linux
- 27Extract ZIP Files on Linux with unzip
- 28How to Extract .gz Files using gunzip in Linux
How to Delete Directories Recursively in Linux
How to Delete Directories Recursively in Linux
Hey there, and welcome back to ProgramGuru.org! In this lesson, we’re going to learn how to delete a directory and all of its contents using Linux commands. If you're new to Linux or just cautious about deleting things, this tutorial will walk you through everything step by step, safely and clearly.
🚨 What Does "Recursively" Mean?
In simple words, recursively deleting means you’re telling Linux: “Hey, delete this folder and EVERYTHING inside it — even other folders and files buried deep inside.”
🔧 The Command We’ll Use: rm -r
Here’s the command we’ll use:
rm -r <directory-name>
Let’s break that down:
rm
stands for remove-r
stands for recursive<directory-name>
is the folder you want to delete
📁 Step-by-Step Example
Let’s say we have a folder named test_folder
that contains some files and subfolders. Here’s how to delete it:
ls
Desktop Documents Downloads test_folder
rm -r test_folder
Linux will now delete test_folder
and everything inside it — all files, all subdirectories.
✅ Want a Confirmation Before Deleting?
If you’re nervous and want to be asked before each file is deleted, add the -i
option:
rm -ri test_folder
rm: descend into directory 'test_folder'? y
rm: remove regular file 'test_folder/file1.txt'? y
rm: remove directory 'test_folder'? y
This is super helpful when you’re learning and don’t want to make accidental mistakes.
⚠️ Warning: There’s No Undo!
Once deleted, the files are gone. There’s no recycle bin in most Linux terminals. So always double-check before hitting Enter
.
Pro Tip: Try it in a Safe Environment
If you’re worried about messing up your real folders, you can practice this in a test
directory:
mkdir test
cd test
mkdir inner
touch inner/file1.txt
cd ..
rm -r test
Next Topic ⮕How to View Hidden Files in Linux
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