---
name: "gdal-vsi-delete"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gdal"
version: "3.13.3-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gdal-vsi-delete"
---

# gdal-vsi-delete(1)

Delete files located on GDAL Virtual System Interface (VSI) Added in version 3.11.

## NAME

gdal-vsi-delete - Delete files located on GDAL Virtual System Interface (VSI)

Added in version 3.11.

## SYNOPSIS

```
Usage: gdal vsi delete [OPTIONS] <FILENAME>
Delete files located on GDAL Virtual System Interface (VSI).
Positional arguments:
  --filename <FILENAME>   File or directory name to delete [required]
Common Options:
  -h, --help              Display help message and exit
  --json-usage            Display usage as JSON document and exit
  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>  Configuration option [may be repeated]
Options:
  -r, -R, --recursive     Delete directories recursively
```

## DESCRIPTION

**gdal vsi delete** delete files and directories located on *GDAL Virtual File Systems (compressed, network hosted, etc...): /vsimem, /vsizip, /vsitar, /vsicurl, ...*.

This is the equivalent of the UNIX **rm** command, and **gdal vsi rm** is an alias for **gdal vsi delete**.

**WARNING:**

Be careful. This command cannot be undone. It can also act on the "real" file system.

### Options

- **-r, -R, --recursive**

  Delete directories recursively.

## RETURN STATUS CODE

The program returns status code 0 in case of success, and non-zero in case of error (non-blocking errors emitted as warnings are considered as a successful execution).

## EXAMPLES

### Example 1: Delete recursively files from /vsis3/bucket/my\_dir

```
$ gdal vsi delete -r /vsis3/bucket/my_dir
```

## AUTHOR

Even Rouault \<even.rouault@spatialys.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

1998-2026