|
1 | 1 | ---
|
2 | 2 | Title: 'Remove'
|
3 |
| -Description: 'A command for removing files or directories from a Git repository.' |
| 3 | +Description: 'Removes files or directories from a Git repository.' |
4 | 4 | Subjects:
|
5 | 5 | - 'Bash/Shell'
|
6 | 6 | - 'Developer Tools'
|
7 | 7 | Tags:
|
| 8 | + - 'Command Line' |
| 9 | + - 'Files' |
8 | 10 | - 'Git'
|
9 | 11 | - 'Version Control'
|
10 | 12 | CatalogContent:
|
11 | 13 | - 'learn-the-command-line'
|
12 | 14 | - 'learn-git'
|
13 | 15 | ---
|
14 | 16 |
|
15 |
| -The **`git rm`** command is used for removing files or directories from a Git repository. |
| 17 | +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. |
16 | 18 |
|
17 |
| -## Deleting Files |
| 19 | +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. |
18 | 20 |
|
19 |
| -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. |
| 21 | +## Syntax |
20 | 22 |
|
21 |
| -### Deleting a File From the Working Directory |
| 23 | +```pseudo |
| 24 | +git rm [<options>] <file>... |
| 25 | +``` |
22 | 26 |
|
23 |
| -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. |
| 27 | +In the syntax: |
24 | 28 |
|
25 |
| -```shell |
26 |
| -rm PROJECTS.md |
27 |
| -git status |
28 |
| -``` |
| 29 | +- `<file>...`: The file(s) to remove from the Git repository. |
| 30 | +- `[<options>]`: The options to be used with the `git rm` command. Common ones include: |
| 31 | + - `-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. |
| 32 | + - `--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. |
| 33 | + - `-r`: Used to remove a directory and its contents recursively. |
| 34 | + - `--dry-run`: Shows what would be removed without actually removing anything. |
29 | 35 |
|
30 |
| -### Utilizing `git rm` for Staged File Removal |
| 36 | +## Example 1: Using `git rm` to Remove a File |
31 | 37 |
|
32 |
| -Running `git rm` stages the removal of the file, preparing it for the next commit. |
| 38 | +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. |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | +This example uses `git rm` to remove a file named `PROJECTS.md` from the repository: |
33 | 41 |
|
34 | 42 | ```shell
|
35 | 43 | git rm PROJECTS.md
|
36 | 44 | git status
|
| 45 | +On branch main |
| 46 | +Changes to be committed: |
| 47 | + (use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage) |
| 48 | + deleted: PROJECTS.md |
37 | 49 | ```
|
38 | 50 |
|
39 |
| -### Options |
| 51 | +Running `git rm` stages the removal of the file, preparing it for the next commit. |
40 | 52 |
|
41 |
| -The `git rm` commands supports several options, including: |
| 53 | +## Example 2: Using `git rm` to Remove a Folder |
42 | 54 |
|
43 |
| -- `-f`, `--force`: Used to forcefully remove a file. Use with caution as it permanently deletes the file from the working directory. |
| 55 | +The `git rm` command can also be utilized to remove a folder and its contents from the Git repository. |
44 | 56 |
|
45 |
| -- `--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. |
| 57 | +This example uses `git rm` with the `-r` option to remove a folder named `myfolder` from the repository: |
46 | 58 |
|
47 |
| -- `-r`: Used to remove a directory and its contents recursively. |
| 59 | +```shell |
| 60 | +git rm -r myfolder |
| 61 | +``` |
48 | 62 |
|
49 |
| -- `--dry-run`: Demonstrates what would be removed without actually removing anything. |
| 63 | +This command is commonly used for cleaning up large directories or removing modules. |
50 | 64 |
|
51 |
| -### Examples |
| 65 | +## Example 3: Using `git rm` to Untrack a File |
52 | 66 |
|
53 |
| -#### Remove a files |
| 67 | +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. |
54 | 68 |
|
55 |
| -To remove a file name `example.txt` from the repository. |
| 69 | +This example uses `git rm` with the `--cached` option to untrack a file named `important.doc` in the repository: |
56 | 70 |
|
57 | 71 | ```shell
|
58 |
| -git rm example.txt |
| 72 | +git rm --cached important.doc |
59 | 73 | ```
|
60 | 74 |
|
61 |
| -#### Remove a Directory and its Contents |
| 75 | +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). |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +## Frequently Asked Questions |
| 78 | + |
| 79 | +### 1. How to undo `git rm`? |
62 | 80 |
|
63 |
| -To remove a directory named `myfolder` and all its contents. |
| 81 | +If you haven’t committed the removal yet, you can recover the deleted file using: |
64 | 82 |
|
65 | 83 | ```shell
|
66 |
| -git rm -r myfolder |
| 84 | +git restore <file> |
67 | 85 | ```
|
68 | 86 |
|
69 |
| -#### Remove a File but Keep it in Working Directory |
| 87 | +If you have committed the removal, you can recover the deleted file using: |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +```shell |
| 90 | +git checkout HEAD <file> |
| 91 | +``` |
| 92 | + |
| 93 | +### 2. What’s the difference between `git rm` and just deleting the file manually? |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | +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. |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +### 3. How can I remove multiple files at once using `git rm`? |
70 | 98 |
|
71 |
| -To stop tracking a file `important.doc` but keep it in the working directory. |
| 99 | +You can specify all the files manually: |
72 | 100 |
|
73 | 101 | ```shell
|
74 |
| -git rm --cached important.doc |
| 102 | +git rm <file1> <file2> <file3>,,, |
| 103 | +``` |
| 104 | + |
| 105 | +Or, use a wildcard: |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +```shell |
| 108 | +git rm *.log |
75 | 109 | ```
|
| 110 | + |
| 111 | +This command deletes all `.log` files from the Git repository and stages the deletions for the next commit. |
0 commit comments