Korn Shell Programming by Example

rm

Official Description

Removes (unlinks) files or directories.

Syntax

rm [-efirR] [--] file...
				

Options

-f forces the deletion of the file with no prompting and no error messages (good for script use).

-i prompts you before deleting each file.

-r permits the recursive removal of directories and their contents.

-- allows filenames beginning with -.

Oddities

Only when a filename is the last link to a file is the storage actually deallocated.

Example

$ ln buzz8 buzz9             # Create a link to buzz8's data
$
$ ln buzz8 buzz10            # Create another link to buzz8's data
$
$ ls -l buzz[891]*           # Note link count
-r-x-w-r-x   3 obrien   users          47 Nov 27 13:31 buzz10
-r-x-w-r-x   3 obrien   users          47 Nov 27 13:31 buzz8
-r-x-w-r-x   3 obrien users 47 Nov 27 13:31 buzz9 $ $ rm ...