Creating and deleting files and directories in Linux is one of the most fundamental tasks when working with the Linux command line. Whether you are managing and organizing project files, setting up a development environment, or managing system resources, knowing how to create and delete directories is vital for efficient file system navigation.
This guide will help you create and delete a directory on Linux. Let’s get started with how to create and delete a directory in Linux.
How to Create a Directory?
via the mkdir Command
The mkdir (make directory) command in Linux is a command-line utility that enables users to create new directories
Prerequisites
You need a Linux or UNIX-like system. Additionally, you will need access to a terminal or command line, as well as a user with permission to create and modify directory settings.
mkdir Command Syntax in Linux
The mkdir command has the following syntax:
mkdir [options] dir_name
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The [Options] section is optional and modifies the behavior of the mkdir command. The available options
The dir_name is the name or names of the directories you want to create. You can highlight multiple directory names separated by a space.
mkidr Linux Command Options
The options enable you to modify the mkdir command’s behavior. The table shows the most common mkdir options and their descriptions:
| Option | Description |
| -p | It is used to create parent directories if they don’t exist. |
| -m a=[rwz] [dir_name] | It sets the file modes, i.e, permissions for the new directory, |
| -v or– verbose | It displays a message for each directory created. When utilized with the [directories] argument, it highlights the names of the directories being created. |
| –version | It is used to display the version number and information about |
| -help | It sets the SELinux security context for directories. |
| -Z | It is used to set the SELinux security context for directories. |
Creating a Directory in Linux
To create a directory using the terminal, pass the desired directory name to the mkdir command.
mkdir Linux
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If the operation is successful, the terminal returns an empty line. To verify the directory’s creation, use the Is command:
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Creating a Directory in a Specific Location
To create directories in a particular location other than your current working directory. You need to specify the full directory path.
mkdir /tmp/example
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How to Create Multiple Directories?
With mkdir, it’s possible to create directories; it can be time-consuming when you need to make more than a few. To avoid that, run a single mkdir command and list the directory names separated by a space.
For example,
mkdir dir1 dir2 dir3
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The above command creates three particular directories. Also, you can use mkdir with curly brackets {} to create multiple directories. For instance, to create several directories, list them within curly brackets, without spaces:
mkdir {test1, test2, test3}
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You can also develop and create a batch of directories starting with the same pattern. Prepend the curly brackets with the pattern and use the brackets to specify the number of directories, for example;
mkdir dir{1..15}
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How to Delete a Directory in Linux?
When removing a directory in Linux, consider whether it is empty or contains files and other directories.
To delete a directory in Linux, there are two commands you can utilize: rmdir to delete empty directories and rm -r to remove directories with files or subdirectories.
Method 1: Use the ‘rmdir’ command- removing an empty directory.
To remove or delete a directory in Linux, you can use the rmdir command. This command is straight forward and safe because it only enables you to delete empty directories, preventing the accidental deletion of directories with content.
Syntax
rmdir [options] [directory name]
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Step 1: Check Your Current Directory
Firstly, open your Linux terminal. Now, before deleting the directory, use the ‘pwd’ command to determine where you are in the filesystem.
pwd
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Step 2: Remove the Directory
Now, to delete an existing empty directory, use the rmdir command:
rmdir gfg
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Step 3: Confirm the directory was deleted
Just write the command to be assured that the directory was deleted:
ls
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Method 2: Using the rm command to remove a directory
The rm command in Linux is a powerful utility used to delete files and directories. To remove a directory along with its contents, the -r (recursive) option is essential. It ensures that the entire directory and all its contents are permanently deleted.
Syntax:
rm [options] [file or directory name]
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Step 1: Navigate to Parent Directory
cd /home/kali/Documents/
rm -ri directory_name
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Step 2: Remove the Directory
To remove the directory and its contents, use the rm command with the –r (recursive) option.
rm -r GeeksforGeeks
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Step 3: Optional Confirmation
To confirm each deletion, you can add the ‘-I’ option to prompt for confirmation.
rm -ri directory_name
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By utilizing the rmdir command, we can easily delete a directory on our system. As you can see in the image, initially, when we created the directory, it was in our system. However, after the deletion, it was no longer visible in our file directories, and the file was successfully removed.
Summing Up
Managing directories is a fundamental skill for anyone working with the Linux command line. Whether you’re organizing project files or cleaning up your system, knowing how to create and delete directories efficiently can save you time and keep your workspace organized. With simple commands like mkdir for creating directories and rm -r or rmdir for deleting them, you have complete control over your file system. As always, exercise caution—especially when using rm -r—to avoid accidentally deleting essential data
