Which of the following commands would you use to delete a folder and all its contents?

Study for the Linux Fundamentals Test. Enhance your skills with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

To delete a folder along with all its contents, using the command that includes the -R (or --recursive) option is essential. This means that the command will recursively remove the specified directory and all files and subdirectories within it.

The command syntax rm -R [folder name] effectively tells the system to go into the folder and delete everything it finds, ensuring that all nested files and directories are also removed. It's a powerful command that should be used with caution because it does not prompt for confirmation before deleting files.

Other commands do not provide the same functionality. For instance, rm -f [folder name] will only force-remove files, not directories or their contents, while rm [folder name] will attempt to remove a directory without the recursive option, leading to an error since the directory is not empty. The rmdir [folder name] command can only remove empty directories; it does not handle non-empty directories, thus making it unsuitable for this purpose.

Hence, the command that allows for complete deletion of a folder and everything inside it is the one utilizing the recursive flag, ensuring an effective cleanup of all contents within the specified directory.

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