UNIX: Recursive Delete Directory / Files

To recursively delete a directory and all of its contents in Unix-like systems, you can use the rm command with the -r (or --recursive) option.

Here’s an example of how to use the rm command to delete a directory called “example_dir” and all of its contents:

The -r option tells rm to recursively remove the contents of the specified directory, including any subdirectories and files.

Note that the rm command is a powerful tool and can permanently delete files, so use it with caution. If you’re unsure about what you’re deleting, you can add the -i (or --interactive) option to rm to prompt you for confirmation before deleting each file:

This will prompt you for confirmation before deleting each file, allowing you to verify what you’re deleting before it’s permanently removed.