SSC IMD SA 2017 – Question 191

Which command is used to remove a directory?

• rd
• rmdir
• dldir
• rdir

Detailed Explanation:

The correct answer is b) rmdir.

In command-line environments across UNIX, Linux, POSIX-compliant operating systems, and DOS/Windows Command Prompt:

• rmdir (Remove Directory): The standard system utility specifically designed to remove/delete empty directories from the filesystem hierarchy.
• Syntax: rmdir directory_name
• Key Behavior: By default, rmdir succeeds only if the target directory is empty, which protects users from accidental loss of contained files. In Linux/UNIX, to remove a non-empty directory along with all its subdirectories and files recursively, the command rm -r directory_name is used.
• Note on Option (a): While rd is an abbreviation used in the Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe), rmdir is the universal, cross-platform standard utility across both UNIX/Linux and Windows environments.