


RM(1)                          FSF                          RM(1)


NAME
       rm - remove files or directories

SYNOPSIS
       rm [OPTION]... FILE...

DESCRIPTION
       This  manual  page  documents  the  GNU version of rm.  rm
       removes each specified file.   By  default,  it  does  not
       remove directories.

       If  a file is unwritable, the standard input is a tty, and
       the -f or --force option is not given, rm prompts the user
       for  whether to remove the file.  If the response does not
       begin with `y' or `Y', the file is skipped.

OPTIONS
       Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).

       -d, --directory
              unlink directory,  even  if  non-empty  (super-user
              only)

       -f, --force
              ignore nonexistent files, never prompt

       -i, --interactive
              prompt before any removal

       -r, -R, --recursive
              remove the contents of directories recursively

       -v, --verbose
              explain what is being done

       --help display this help and exit

       --version
              output version information and exit

       To remove a file whose name starts with a `-', for example
       `-foo', use one of these commands:

              ../src/rm -- -foo

              ../src/rm ./-foo

       Note that if you use rm to remove a file,  it  is  usually
       possible  to  recover  the  contents of that file.  If you
       want more assurance that the contents are truly unrecover-
       able, consider using shred.

AUTHOR
       Written  by Paul Rubin, David MacKenzie, Richard Stallman,



rm (fileutils) 4.1          April 2002                          1





RM(1)                          FSF                          RM(1)


       and Jim Meyering.

REPORTING BUGS
       Report bugs to <bug-fileutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software; see the source for  copying  condi-
       tions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY
       or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO
       shred(1)

       The full documentation for rm is maintained as  a  Texinfo
       manual.    If  the  info  and  rm  programs  are  properly
       installed at your site, the command

              info rm

       should give you access to the complete manual.




































rm (fileutils) 4.1          April 2002                          2


