选题: 20190921 How to Remove (Delete) Symbolic Links in Linux

sources/tech/20190921 How to Remove (Delete) Symbolic Links in Linux.md
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+[#]: collector: (lujun9972)
+[#]: translator: ( )
+[#]: reviewer: ( )
+[#]: publisher: ( )
+[#]: url: ( )
+[#]: subject: (How to Remove (Delete) Symbolic Links in Linux)
+[#]: via: (https://www.2daygeek.com/remove-delete-symbolic-link-softlink-linux/)
+[#]: author: (Magesh Maruthamuthu https://www.2daygeek.com/author/magesh/)
+
+How to Remove (Delete) Symbolic Links in Linux
+======
+
+You may have the opportunity to create or remove symbolic links on Linux.
+
+If yes, do you know how to do it?
+
+Have you already done that? Are you aware of that?
+
+If yes then there is no problem. If not, don’t worry, we are here to help you with this.
+
+This can be done using the rm and unlink commands.
+
+### What is Symbolic Link?
+
+A symbolic link, also known as a symlink or soft link, is a special type of file that points to another file or directory in Linux.
+
+It’s similar to a shortcut in Windows.
+
+It can point to a file or a directory on the same or a different filesystem or partition.
+
+In general Symbolic links are used to link libraries. Also, used to link log files and folders on mounted NFS (Network File System) shares.
+
+### What is rm Command?
+
+The **[rm command][1]** is used to remove files or directories. This is very dangerous and be cautious every time you use the rm command.
+
+### What is unlink Command?
+
+The unlink command is used to remove the specified file. It is already installed as it is part of the GNU Gorutils.
+
+### 1) How to Remove Symbolic Link Files Using the rm Command
+
+The rm command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux. Furthermore, it allows us to remove the symbolic links as described below.
+
+```
+# rm symlinkfile
+```
+
+Always use the rm command with the “-i” switch to understand what is being done.
+
+```
+# rm -i symlinkfile1
+rm: remove symbolic link ‘symlinkfile1’? y
+```
+
+It also allows us to remove multiple symbolic links at once.
+
+```
+# rm -i symlinkfile2 symlinkfile3
+
+rm: remove symbolic link ‘symlinkfile2’? y
+rm: remove symbolic link ‘symlinkfile3’? y
+```
+
+### 1a) How to Remove Symbolic Link Directories Using the rm Command
+
+This is like removing a symbolic link file.
+
+Use the below command to remove Symbolic Link directory.
+
+```
+# rm -i symlinkdir
+
+rm: remove symbolic link ‘symlinkdir’? y
+```
+
+Use the below command to remove multiple Symbolic Link directory.
+
+```
+# rm -i symlinkdir1 symlinkdir2
+
+rm: remove symbolic link ‘symlinkdir1’? y
+rm: remove symbolic link ‘symlinkdir2’? y
+```
+
+If you add _**“/”**_ trailing slash at the end, the symbolic link directory cannot be deleted. If you add, you get an error.
+
+```
+# rm -i symlinkdir/
+
+rm: cannot remove ‘symlinkdir/’: Is a directory
+```
+
+You may need to add the **“-r”** switch to deal with the above problem. If you add this, it will delete the contents of the target directory, while it will not delete the symbolic link directory.
+
+```
+# rm -ri symlinkdir/
+
+rm: descend into directory ‘symlinkdir/’? y
+rm: remove regular file ‘symlinkdir/file4.txt’? y
+rm: remove directory ‘symlinkdir/’? y
+rm: cannot remove ‘symlinkdir/’: Not a directory
+```
+
+### 2) How to Remove Symbolic Links Using the unlink Command
+
+The unlink command deletes a given file. It accepts only a single file at a time.
+
+To delete symbolic link file
+
+```
+# unlink symlinkfile
+```
+
+To delete symbolic link directory
+
+```
+# unlink symlinkdir2
+```
+
+If you append the _**“/”**_ trailing slash at the end, you cannot remove the symbolic link directory using the unlink command.
+
+```
+# unlink symlinkdir3/
+
+unlink: cannot unlink ‘symlinkdir3/’: Not a directory
+```
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+via: https://www.2daygeek.com/remove-delete-symbolic-link-softlink-linux/
+
+作者：[Magesh Maruthamuthu][a]
+选题：[lujun9972][b]
+译者：[译者ID](https://github.com/译者ID)
+校对：[校对者ID](https://github.com/校对者ID)
+
+本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出
+
+[a]: https://www.2daygeek.com/author/magesh/
+[b]: https://github.com/lujun9972
+[1]: https://www.2daygeek.com/linux-remove-files-directories-folders-rm-command/