Question

26

Unable to remove a file which has a name like a command argument

rated 0 times [ 26] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 21555 / 2 Years ago, tue, july 19, 2022, 3:37:43

I inadvertently created a file called -r in my home directory. Now I cannot get rid of it:

rm -rf

rm: missing operand

Try 'rm --help' for more information.

Other attempts:

rm /-/r

rm: cannot remove ‘/-/r’: No such file or directory

Another one:

rm -r

rm: missing operand

Try 'rm --help' for more information.

Is there a way to remove this file without deleting the whole directory?

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2 Years ago

answered 2 Years ago amelican · Accepted Answer

In this case you have to use the double-dash (--) in your command arguments.

The purpose of it is to tell to the command that what's follow has not to be taken as an argument to the command but a simple input. In the case of rm, a file or directory name.

So type rm -- -r and you should get rid of this file.