---
name: "rmdir"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rmdir"
---

# rmdir(1)

remove empty directories

## NAME

rmdir - remove empty directories

## SYNOPSIS

**rmdir** \[*OPTION*\]... *DIRECTORY*...

## DESCRIPTION

Remove the DIRECTORY(ies), if they are empty.

- **--ignore-fail-on-non-empty**

  ignore each failure to remove a non-empty directory

- **-p, --parents**

  remove DIRECTORY and its ancestors; e.g., 'rmdir **-p** a/b' is similar to 'rmdir a/b a'

- **-v, --verbose**

  output a diagnostic for every directory processed

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by David MacKenzie.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**rmdir**(2)](/rmdir/2.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/rmdir\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) rmdir invocation'