rmdir

rmdir is a command-line utility used to remove empty directories on many operating systems, including Unix-like systems and Windows (where the command is also accessible as rd). The command will remove the specified directory if and only if it is empty; attempting to remove a non-empty directory typically results in an error. It does not delete files within the directory, nor does it remove directories that are in use as the current working directory or that contain files.

Common options in Unix-like environments include -p or --parents to remove the directory and its ancestors if they become empty, and -v or --verbose to print the actions taken.

In Windows, rmdir (rd) removes an empty directory; to remove a non-empty directory you can use rmdir /S /Q dir to delete the directory tree quietly. Without /S the command will fail if the directory contains files. Permissions must allow the removal, and attempting to remove the directory you are currently in will fail on most systems.

Typical usage is straightforward: rmdir dirname will remove the directory if it is empty. Use -p to remove a directory and its empty parents, for example rmdir -p a/b/c will remove c, then b, then a if they become empty. For verbose feedback, include -v, as in rmdir -v -p dir.

See also related commands such as rm and mkdir, which manage non-empty deletions and creation of directories, respectively.