rm -rf Command: Meaning & Dangers in Linux

In Linux, the command “rm -rf” is a dangerous and powerful command used for deleting files and directories. “rm” is the delete command, while “-rf” is a combination of two options.

The “-r” option indicates a recursive delete, which means deleting all files and subdirectories within the specified directory. Without using the “-r” option, it will not be possible to delete a non-empty directory.

The “-f” option indicates a forceful deletion, which means there will be no prompts and files or directories will be deleted directly. If the “-f” option is not used, prompt messages may appear when attempting to delete certain special files or directories, requiring confirmation before deletion.

Therefore, the “rm -rf” command will recursively delete all files and subdirectories within the specified directory without any warning messages. This command should be used with caution, as once executed, the deleted files and directories cannot be recovered.