Mac OS X in a Nutshell

Name

rm

Synopsis

rm [options] files
                  

Deletes one or more files. To remove a file, you must have write permission in the directory that contains the file, but you need not have permission on the file itself. If you do not have write permission on the file, you will be prompted (y or n) to override.

Options

-d

Remove directories, even if they are not empty.

-f

Remove write-protected files without prompting.

-i

Prompt for y (remove the file) or n (do not remove the file).

-P

Causes rm to overwrite files three different times before deleting them.

-r,-R

If file is a directory, remove the entire directory and all its contents, including subdirectories. Be forewarned: use of this option can be dangerous.

-v

Turn on verbose mode. (rm prints the name of each file before removing it.)

-W

Undelete files on a union filesystem that whiteouts have been applied over.