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## 3.3.6 Deleting files and directories

You now have an ugly rhyme developing with the use of the `ls` command. To delete a file, use the `rm` command. (```rm`'' stands for ``remove'').

`/home/larry/foo# rm bells sells
/home/larry/foo# ls -F
shells
/home/larry/foo#`

We're left with nothing but shells, but we won't complain. Note that `rm` by default won't prompt you before deleting a file---so be careful.

A related command to `rm` is `rmdir`. This command deletes a directory, but only if the directory is empty. If the directory contains any files or subdirectories, `rmdir` will complain.

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