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The rm command

rm which stands for "remove" is a command used to remove (delete) specific files. It can also be used to remove directories by using the appropriate flag.

Example:

rm filename.txt

Syntax

rm [OPTION] [FILE|DIRECTORY]

Flags and their Functionalities:

Short Flag	Long Flag	Description
-f	--force	Ignore nonexistance of files or directories, never prompt
-i	-	Prompt before every removal
-I	-	Prompt once before removal of more than 3 files, or when removing recursively
-d	--dir	remove empty directories
-v	--verbose	explain what is being done
-r or -R	--recursive	remove directories and their contents recursively
-	--help	Display help then exit
-	--version	First, Print version Information, Then exit
-	--no-preserve-root	do not treat / specially
-	-preserve-root[=all]	do not remove / (default) with 'all', reject any command line argument on a separate device from its parent
-	--interactive[=WHEN]	prompt according to WHEN, never, once -I, or always -i, without WHEN, prompt always
-	--one-file-system	when removing a hierarchy recursively, skip any directory that is on a file system different from that of the corresponding command line argument0

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

1. rm doesn't remove directories by default, so use -r, -R, --recursive options to remove each listed directory, along with all of its contents.
2. To remove a file whose name starts with - such as -foo, use one of the following commands:
   • rm -- -foo
   • rm ./-foo
3. To ensure that files/directories being deleted are truly unrecoverable, consider using the shred command.