Command `rm` has two command-line switches that can prevent you from accidentally deleting files that you do not intend to. It does so by prompting you.
Both these switches are explained below.
Switch -i
Usage:
| $ rm -i FILES ... |
EXAMPLE:
| $
touch a b c d e f $ $ ls ? a b c d e f $ $ rm -i a b c d e f rm: remove regular empty file ‘a’? y rm: remove regular empty file ‘b’? n rm: remove regular empty file ‘c’? y rm: remove regular empty file ‘d’? n rm: remove regular empty file ‘e’? y rm: remove regular empty file ‘f’? n $ $ ls ? b d f $ |
The above example demonstrates that -i switch deletes files interactively. In other words, it asks you whether or not you are sure of your action before removing each file.
Switch -i can slow you down if you are heavy into housekeeping and mostly know what you are doing. The next switch -I can be your friend if you are one of the above.
Switch -I (Note: that is uppercase I as in Icecream, not lowercase l as in linux)
Usage:
| $ rm -I FILES ... |
OBSERVE THE NEXT SET OF EXAMPLES CAREFULLY:
EXAMPLE - Deleting More Than 3 Files
| $
touch a b c d e f $ $ ls ? $ a b c d e f $ $ rm -I a b c d e f # Deleting more than 3 files, would prompt (only Once) rm: remove all arguments? y $ $ ls ? ls: cannot access ?: No such file or directory |
EXAMPLE - Deleting 3 Or Less Files
| $
touch a b c d e f $ $ ls ? a b c d e f $ $ rm -I a b c # Would not prompt for less than or equal to 3 files $ $ ls ? d e f $ |
EXAMPLE - Deleting Files Recursively
| $touch
a b c d e f $ $ mkdir -p dir1/dir2 $ $ touch dir1/file1 dir1/dir2/file2 $ $ ls -R dir1 dir1: dir2 file1 dir1/dir2: file2 $ $ rm -R -I dir1 # Prompts because of recursion, regardless of the total number of files rm: remove all arguments recursively? y $ $ ls -R dir1 ls: cannot access dir1: No such file or directory $ |
Above examples demonstrate that -I switch prompts only under two cases:
(a) Prompts (only once) if the number of files being asked to be deleted on the command prompt are more than 3
OR
(b) Prompts (only once) if the files are requested to be deleted recursively through sub-directories (recursive = -R switch)
Switch -v
In addition to -i or -I, one can add another switch -v (Verbose), as shown below, and receive feedback as to which files were actually deleted (!!) by the command `rm`.
USAGE:
| $ rm -v -i FILES ... |
OR
| $ rm -v -I FILES ... |
EXAMPLE:
| $
touch a b c d e f $ $ ls ? a b c d e f $ $ rm -v -I a b c d e f rm: remove all arguments? y removed ‘a’ removed ‘b’ removed ‘c’ removed ‘d’ removed ‘e’ removed ‘f’ $ $ ls ? ls: cannot access ?: No such file or directory $ |
If typing extra command-line switches following the `rm` command every time seem tedious, then we can use `alias` command to ease that. I will soon write a blog on `alias` command, come back and check.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your time exploring and learning Linux.
