---
name: "remove"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "Libc"
version: "1752.120.2"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/remove"
---

# remove(3)

remove directory entry

## NAME

**remove** – remove directory entry

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<stdio.h\>**

*int*\

**remove**(*const char \*path*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **remove**() function removes the file or directory specified by *path*.

If *path* specifies a directory, **remove**(*path*) is the equivalent of **rmdir**(*path*). Otherwise, it is the equivalent of **unlink**(*path*).

## RETURN VALUES

The **remove()** function returns the value 0 if successful; otherwise the value -1 is returned and the global variable errno is set to indicate the error.

## ERRORS

The **remove**() function may fail and set *errno* for any of the errors specified for the routines [lstat(2)](/lstat/2.md), [rmdir(2)](/rmdir/2.md), or [unlink(2)](/unlink/2.md).

## SEE ALSO

[rmdir(2)](/rmdir/2.md), [unlink(2)](/unlink/2.md)

## STANDARDS

The **remove**() function conforms to ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (“ISO C90”) and X/Open Portability Guide Issue 4, Version 2 (“XPG4.2”).