RMDIR(1) | General Commands Manual | RMDIR(1)

# NAME

`rmdir` — remove directories

# SYNOPSIS

`rmdir` | [`-pv`] directory ...

# DESCRIPTION

The rmdir utility removes the directory entry specified by each directory argument, provided it is empty.

Arguments are processed in the order given. In order to remove both a parent directory and a subdirectory of that parent, the subdirectory must be specified first so the parent directory is empty when `rmdir` tries to remove it.

The following options are available:

`-p`
  Each directory argument is treated as a pathname of which all components will be removed, if they are empty, starting with the last most component. (See rm(1) for fully non-discriminant recursive removal.)
`-v`
  Cause `rmdir` to be verbose, showing directories as they are processed.

# EXIT STATUS

The `rmdir` utility exits with one of the following values:

`0`
  Each directory entry specified by a dir operand referred to an empty directory and was removed successfully.
`>0`
  An error occurred.

# SEE ALSO

rm(1)

# STANDARDS

The `rmdir` utility is expected to be IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”) compatible.

# HISTORY

An `rmdir` utility appeared in Version 1 AT&T UNIX.

May 12, 2025 | NetBSD 10.99