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Remove a file whose name begins with a dash ( - ) character

Terminal - Remove a file whose name begins with a dash ( - ) character
rm ./-filename
2009-02-18 18:36:25
User: starchox
Functions: rm
5
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Down
Remove a file whose name begins with a dash ( - ) character

Using the redundant ./ directory information prevents the dash from occurring at the beginning of the filename, and being interpreted as an option of the rm command.

Also works using:

rm -- -filename
Show sample output | Add to favourites | Report as malicious

Alternatives

There is 1 alternative - vote for the best!

Terminal - Alternatives

Know a better way?

If you can do better, submit your command here.

What others think

Not to be a dick, or anything, but this really is nothing too special.. it is basic shell usage...

Comment by ozymandias 222 weeks and 2 days ago

imho `rm -- -filename` is a better choice and using "--" has the added benefit of working with cmds other than "rm"

Comment by foetalminde 222 weeks and 2 days ago

I prefer "--" by far too, as it's portable to most other commands.

Comment by raphink 222 weeks and 2 days ago

I tend to escape, or quote things like this.

Comment by ozymandias 222 weeks and 2 days ago

how would you escape that not using -- ?

Comment by TheBunman 222 weeks and 2 days ago
touch \- ls \- rm \-

works

Comment by grep 222 weeks and 2 days ago

grep -- exactly.

Comment by ozymandias 222 weeks and 1 day ago

thanx

Comment by vigo 166 weeks and 2 days ago

Your point of view

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