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 pos-
     sible  to  recover  the  contents of that file.  If you want
     more assurance that the contents  are  truly  unrecoverable,
     consider using shred.

rm (fileutils) 4.1   Last change: April 2001                    1

FSF                                                         RM(1)

AUTHOR
     Written by Paul Rubin, David  MacKenzie,  Richard  Stallman,
     and Jim Meyering.

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

COPYRIGHT
     Copyright O 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   Last change: April 2001                    2