How to delete a file in Git

Arif Billah Babu

         

  git



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To delete a file in Git, you can use the git rm command. This command not only deletes the file from your working directory but also stages the removal so that it can be committed. Here's how you can use it:


git rm <filename>

Replace <filename> with the name of the file you want to delete. After running this command, the file is removed from both your working directory and the staging area.


If you only want to remove the file from the working directory but keep it in the repository (untracked), you can use the following command:

git rm --cached <filename>


After running either of the above commands, you need to commit the changes to make the deletion permanent:

git commit -m "Delete <filename>"


This commits the removal of the file. Don't forget to push the changes to your remote repository if necessary:

git push origin <branch_name>


Replace <branch_name> with the name of your branch.

Keep in mind that if the file has been modified since the last commit, Git might refuse to delete it to prevent potential data loss. In that case, you can use the -f (force) option:

git rm -f <filename>


However, be cautious when using the force option, as it can lead to the loss of data. Make sure you have a backup or are certain that you want to delete the file.



=== Happy Coding :)