What does the 'rm' command do?

The 'rm' command in Linux is used to remove files or directories from the file system. This means that when you invoke 'rm' followed by the name of a file, that file is deleted permanently, meaning it cannot be recovered using simple file system commands. This command can also be used with the '-r' option to remove entire directories and their contents recursively.

Understanding this function is crucial because managing files and directories is a fundamental part of using Linux. Unlike renaming files or moving them to another location, the 'rm' command actually deletes the specified files or directories, which is a critical operation that requires careful usage to avoid unintentional data loss.

While other options describe common file management tasks, they are not functions of the 'rm' command, emphasizing that its primary role is specifically the removal of files and directories.