How To Delete A File In Linux (Best And Fastest Methods)

The process of deleting a file in Linux is very simple and crucial at the same time. Linux, in comparison to other operating systems, provides a variety of file deletion options, each with a different level of security and control. Whether you need to delete a single file using the command line option or simply move it to the trash, it is essential to use the right method for the task. This article will discuss the various methods and command line tools for deleting files and removing directories in Linux, their advantages, and how to use them.

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How to remove a file in Linux

Method 1: Using the rm command

rm command (for remove) is the most basic command and commonly used file deletion command to remove the current directory/file. The “rm” command will work differently for different file types.

To delete a file, open the terminal and type the following command:

rm filename

Replace 'filename' with the name of the file that you want to delete. If the file is in a different directory, include the path to the file in the command.

For example:

rm /home/user/documents/filename

You will be asked for confirmation to delete a file or directory if it is write-protected. Use the -r (recursive) and -f (forcing) arguments combination to delete directories that are not empty and to disable these prompts.

rm -rf directory

Use the tree command to understand the directory structure and the files that the rm -rf command would delete.

sudo apt-get install tree

The directory structure and files underneath the directory from which it is executed are depicted in an easy-to-understand figure by the tree command.

It is important to note that the rm command permanently deletes the file, and it cannot be recovered once deleted. Therefore, use this command with caution, especially when deleting critical files.

Method 2: Using the unlink command

The unlink command in Linux is used to delete a single file. The basic syntax of the unlink command is as follows:

unlink [file_name]

Method 3: Using the srm command

The srm command deletes and removes a file in a similar way to the rm command. The srm command, however, repeatedly overwrites the file with random data before removing it.

srm [file_name]

Note that the srm command is not installed by default on most Linux distributions. You may need to install it manually using your package manager. After installation, you can use the srm tool to remove files or directories.

Method 4: Using the shred command

The shred command in Linux is used to securely delete files and devices by overwriting their contents multiple times with random data. It is a more powerful and flexible alternative to the rm and srm commands.

The basic syntax of the shred command is as follows:

shred [options] [file_name]

By default, shred overwrites the contents of the file 3 times with random data. You can specify the number of times to overwrite the file using the -n option. For example, to overwrite the file 7 times, you can use the following command:

shred -n 7 file.txt

Apart from the above methods, you can also try these:

find Command: The find command, in combination with the -delete option, can be employed to locate and delete files.
trash-cli: The trash-cli utility provides a safer approach by moving files to a trash directory, allowing for potential recovery.
midnight commander (mc): The Midnight Commander file manager (mc) offers a user-friendly interface for file operations, including deletion of files.

How to remove a directory in Linux

For permanently removing a directory in Linux we use either the rmdir command or the rm command or the unlink depending upon the type of directory :

For empty directory

Empty folders or directories can be removed using the rmdir or rm -d commands followed by the directory name.

The rmdir command in Linux is used to delete an empty directory. It cannot be used to delete a file. If you try to delete a non-empty folder, rmdir command will give you an error message.

To use rmdir command, you can use the following syntax:

rmdir [directory_name]

For non-empty directory

To remove the non-empty directories, the rm -r command is used.

rm [directory_name]

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I delete a file in Linux?

To delete a file in Linux, you can use the rm command followed by the file name. For example, if you want to delete a file named "example.txt", you would type rm example.txt in the terminal. Please note that this action cannot be undone, so make sure you are deleting the correct file.

2. Can I recover a file after deleting it in Linux?

In most cases, once a file is deleted in Linux, it cannot be easily recovered. However, there are some data recovery tools available that may be able to retrieve deleted files. It is important to act quickly and avoid writing any new data to the disk where the file was located to increase the chances of successful recovery.

3. How can I delete a directory and its contents in Linux?

To delete a directory and all its contents in Linux, you can use the rm command with the -r option. For example, if you want to delete a directory named "mydirectory" and all its files and subdirectories, you would type rm -r mydirectory in the terminal. Be cautious when using this command, as it will permanently delete all the files and directories within the specified directory.

4. Is there a way to delete a file without confirmation prompts?

Yes, you can delete a file without confirmation prompts in Linux by using the rm command with the -f option. For example, if you want to delete a file named "example.txt" without any confirmation prompts, you would type rm -f example.txt in the terminal. Be careful when using this option, as it bypasses any warning prompts and permanently deletes the file.

5. How can I securely delete a file in Linux?

To securely delete a file in Linux, you can use the shred command. The shred command overwrites the file's data multiple times, making it much more difficult to recover. For example, to

We hope this article has cleared all your doubts about how to delete a file in Linux. Here are some other suggested reads:

Shivangi Vatsal

Sr. Associate Content Strategist @Unstop

I am a storyteller by nature. At Unstop, I tell stories ripe with promise and inspiration, and in life, I voice out the stories of our four-legged furry friends. Providing a prospect of a good life filled with equal opportunities to students and our pawsome buddies helps me sleep better at night. And for those rainy evenings, I turn to my colors.