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[Edit] Git: Remove (#6608)
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Title: 'Remove'
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Description: 'A command for removing files or directories from a Git repository.'
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Description: 'Removes files or directories from a Git repository.'
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Subjects:
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- 'Bash/Shell'
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- 'Developer Tools'
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Tags:
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- 'Command Line'
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- 'Files'
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- 'Git'
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- 'Version Control'
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CatalogContent:
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- 'learn-the-command-line'
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- 'learn-git'
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---
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The **`git rm`** command is used for removing files or directories from a Git repository.
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The **`git rm`** command is used for removing files or directories from a Git repository. This command ensures that the deletion of files is tracked in the version history, making it a reliable way to manage file removals in a Git repository.
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## Deleting Files
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Common applications of `git rm` include deleting unnecessary files, cleaning up large directories, or untracking files that should no longer be version-controlled (such as log files or temporary data). It helps in maintaining a clear and consistent [commit](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/git/commit) history reflecting the file removals.
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To remove a file from Git, it has to be removed from tracked files (from the staging area) and then committed. The `git rm` command accomplishes this task. It also removes the file from the working directory so that it's no longer an untracked file.
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## Syntax
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### Deleting a File From the Working Directory
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```pseudo
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git rm [<options>] <file>...
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```
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If a file is deleted from the working directory, it will appear in the "Changes not staged for commit" section of the `git status` output.
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In the syntax:
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```shell
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rm PROJECTS.md
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git status
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```
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- `<file>...`: The file(s) to remove from the Git repository.
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- `[<options>]`: The options to be used with the `git rm` command. Common ones include:
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- `-f`, `--force`: Used to forcefully remove a file. It needs to be used with caution as it permanently removes the file from the working directory.
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- `--cached`: Used to remove a file from the repository but retain it in the working directory. It effectively stops tracking the file, but the file itself remains in the local filesystem.
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- `-r`: Used to remove a directory and its contents recursively.
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- `--dry-run`: Shows what would be removed without actually removing anything.
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### Utilizing `git rm` for Staged File Removal
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## Example 1: Using `git rm` to Remove a File
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Running `git rm` stages the removal of the file, preparing it for the next commit.
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To remove a file from the Git repository, it has to be removed from tracked files (from the staging area) and then committed. The `git rm` command accomplishes the first task. It also removes the file from the working directory so that it's no longer an untracked file.
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This example uses `git rm` to remove a file named `PROJECTS.md` from the repository:
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```shell
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git rm PROJECTS.md
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git status
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On branch main
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Changes to be committed:
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(use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage)
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deleted: PROJECTS.md
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```
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### Options
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Running `git rm` stages the removal of the file, preparing it for the next commit.
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The `git rm` commands supports several options, including:
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## Example 2: Using `git rm` to Remove a Folder
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- `-f`, `--force`: Used to forcefully remove a file. Use with caution as it permanently deletes the file from the working directory.
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The `git rm` command can also be utilized to remove a folder and its contents from the Git repository.
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- `--cached`: Used to remove a file from the Git repository but retain it in the working directory. It effectively stops tracking the file, but the file itself remains in the local filesystem.
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This example uses `git rm` with the `-r` option to remove a folder named `myfolder` from the repository:
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- `-r`: Used to remove a directory and its contents recursively.
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```shell
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git rm -r myfolder
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```
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- `--dry-run`: Demonstrates what would be removed without actually removing anything.
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This command is commonly used for cleaning up large directories or removing modules.
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### Examples
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## Example 3: Using `git rm` to Untrack a File
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#### Remove a files
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The `git rm` command can be used for untracking a file in the Git repository as well. Untracking a file indicates that changes to the file will not be tracked anymore, but it will be kept in the working directory.
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To remove a file name `example.txt` from the repository.
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This example uses `git rm` with the `--cached` option to untrack a file named `important.doc` in the repository:
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```shell
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git rm example.txt
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git rm --cached important.doc
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```
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#### Remove a Directory and its Contents
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This command is often used when sensitive or machine-specific files are accidentally committed and need to be excluded using [`.gitignore`](https://www.codecademy.com/article/how-to-use-gitignore).
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## Frequently Asked Questions
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### 1. How to undo `git rm`?
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To remove a directory named `myfolder` and all its contents.
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If you haven’t committed the removal yet, you can recover the deleted file using:
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```shell
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git rm -r myfolder
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git restore <file>
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```
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#### Remove a File but Keep it in Working Directory
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If you have committed the removal, you can recover the deleted file using:
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```shell
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git checkout HEAD <file>
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```
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### 2. What’s the difference between `git rm` and just deleting the file manually?
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Manually deleting the file removes it from the working directory, but Git won’t know about the deletion until you run [`git add`](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/git/add) on the deleted file or use `git rm`. In contrast, `git rm` stages the deletion immediately, making it part of the next commit automatically.
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### 3. How can I remove multiple files at once using `git rm`?
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To stop tracking a file `important.doc` but keep it in the working directory.
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You can specify all the files manually:
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```shell
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git rm --cached important.doc
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git rm <file1> <file2> <file3>,,,
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```
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Or, use a wildcard:
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```shell
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git rm *.log
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```
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This command deletes all `.log` files from the Git repository and stages the deletions for the next commit.

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