How to delete a file in Linux
- Main
- Knowledge base
- How to delete a file in Linux
30.08.2024, 01:46
In Linux, as in any operating system, it may be necessary to delete files. In this article, we will explain the reasons why users need to delete a file from the system, as well as give instructions on how to do it correctly.
Reasons why you need to delete a file from the system
The reasons are as follows:
1. Freeing up hard disk space. If the disk is full, deleting unnecessary files can free up storage space for new files.
2. Cleaning the system from unnecessary files. Linux accumulates temporary files, logs, and other files that can take up a lot of hard disk space. Deleting these files will help free up space and speed up the system.
3. Delete malicious files. In Linux, as in other operating systems, malicious programs or files may be installed. Deleting such files will help protect the system from further spread of malware.
4. Change system settings. In some cases, deleting files may be required to change system settings or software settings.
5. Restoring free memory after installing the software. When installing the software, temporary files may be created that need to be deleted after installation in order to restore free memory on the hard disk.
6. Deleting files not needed for the task. For example, if you are working on a project and you no longer need some files, you can delete them to simplify working with the project.
7. To comply with access rights. In some cases, you may need to delete files in order to comply with access rights. For example, if you don't have permission to view or modify files, you won't be able to use them in your work.
8. When cleaning the system before selling or transferring the device to another user. If you want to sell or transfer your device to another user, you may need to delete all personal data and files to ensure the confidentiality and security of your data.
In Linux, there are many utilities for deleting files with various options. For example, the "shred" command deletes files without the possibility of restoring them, the "wipe" command deletes files so that they are unrecoverable using specialized programs, the "srm" command deletes files so that they are unrecoverable even in laboratory conditions.
It is important to remember that when deleting files in Linux, they are usually moved to the trash, which is located in a special "Trash" directory. This allows you to restore files if they were deleted accidentally or by mistake. If you want to permanently delete files without the possibility of restoring them, you should use specialized utilities such as "shred", "wipe" or "srm".
Instructions for deleting a file from the system
On Linux, you can use the "rm" command to delete a file. The following steps must be followed:
Open a terminal in Linux.Enter the command "rm" and specify the path to the file you want to delete. For example, to delete a file "file.txt ", located in the home directory, you need to enter the command "rm ~/file.txt ".If you want to delete several files, list them separated by a space. For example, "rm ~/file1.txt ~/file2.txt ".When using the "rm" command, be careful, as deleting a file with this command occurs without confirmation. If you want to get confirmation before deleting a file, use the command "rm -i" instead of "rm".It is important to know that deleted files cannot be restored, so before deleting, make sure that the files are really no longer needed.If you try to delete a file that you do not have rights to, you will receive an error message. To delete such a file, you need to get the rights to delete it. For example, to delete a file that belongs to the user "root", you need to run the command "sudo rm /path/to/file".If you want to delete a directory, not a file, use the "rm -r" command. For example, to delete the directory "mydirectory" located in the home directory, you need to enter the command "rm -r ~/mydirectory". Be careful when using this command, as all files and subdirectories in the specified directory will be deleted without confirmation.If you accidentally deleted a file, you need to use special data recovery programs such as TestDisk, PhotoRec or Scalpel. It is important to know that the faster you apply these programs, the more likely data recovery is. Therefore, in case of deleting files by mistake, do not write new data to disk, so as not to erase the old ones.Do you want to delete a file without displaying a confirmation screen for each deletion? You can use the "rm -f" command. For example, to delete a file "file.txt " without confirmation output, enter the command "rm -f file.txt ". Be careful when using this command, as deleted files will be permanently lost.Do I need to delete files with a specific extension in the current directory? Use the asterisk symbol (*) to indicate the extension. For example, to delete all files with the extension ".txt" in the current directory, enter the command "rm *.txt".
If you accidentally deleted a file and want to restore it from a backup, you can use the "cp" command to copy the file from the backup to the desired directory. For example, to copy a file "file.txt " from the backup copy located in the directory "/backup" to the user directory, enter the command "cp /backup/file.txt ~/".
Other articles of the section
