Linux / UNIX: How To Empty Directory

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In Linux/Unix, there are several ways to empty a directory:

  1. Using the rm command:
rm -rf <directory-name>/*

This command will recursively remove all files and subdirectories in the specified directory (<directory-name>). Be cautious when using the rm command, as it can permanently delete files.

  1. Using the find command:
find <directory-name> -type f -delete

This command will find all files in the specified directory (<directory-name>) and delete them. It does not delete subdirectories.

  1. Using the rsync command:
rsync --delete -a <directory-name>/ /dev/null

This command will synchronize the contents of the specified directory (<directory-name>) with /dev/null, which discards all data. It will delete all files and subdirectories in the specified directory.

Note that in all cases, you must have the appropriate permissions to delete files in the specified directory. Also, be cautious when emptying a directory, as deleted files cannot be recovered.

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