LinuxQuestions.org - can't remove file "-r"

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- - can't remove file "-r" (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/cant-remove-file-r-4175545031/)

dthims

06-10-2015 07:04 PM

can't remove file "-r"

have been trying to get rid of that file, its in the home directory. permission for that file is 644. tried rm -f "-r" did not work.

schneidz

06-10-2015 07:05 PM

Code:

rm ./-r

dthims

06-10-2015 07:09 PM

thnx for the quick reply. it worked

Sefyir

06-10-2015 10:26 PM

-- is used to say "there are no more options after this"
So while this means recursively remove filea

Code:

rm -r filea

This means remove the file -r and remove the file filea

Code:

rm -- -r filea

From man bash

Code:

      --        A -- signals the end of options and disables  further  option

                processing.  Any arguments after the -- are treated as file‐

                names and arguments.  An argument of - is equivalent to --.

goumba

06-10-2015 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sefyir (Post 5375401)

-- is used to say "there are no more options after this"

It is useful to note that this applies to all of your base utilities - cp, mv, &c.

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