del (2024)

  • Article

Deletes one or more files. This command performs the same actions as the erase command.

The del command can also run from the Windows Recovery Console, using different parameters. For more information, see Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Syntax

del [/p] [/f] [/s] [/q] [/a[:]<attributes>] <names>erase [/p] [/f] [/s] [/q] [/a[:]<attributes>] <names>

Parameters

ParameterDescription
<names>Specifies a list of one or more files or directories. Wildcards may be used to delete multiple files. If a directory is specified, all files within the directory will be deleted.
/pPrompts for confirmation before deleting the specified file.
/fForces deletion of read-only files.
/sDeletes specified files from the current directory and all subdirectories. Displays the names of the files as they are being deleted.
/qSpecifies quiet mode. You are not prompted for delete confirmation.
/a[:]<attributes>Deletes files based on the following file attributes:
  • r Read-only files
  • h Hidden files
  • i Not content indexed files
  • s System files
  • a Files ready for archiving
  • l Reparse points
  • - Used as a prefix meaning 'not'
.
/?Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • If you use the del /p command, you'll see the following message:

    FileName, Delete (Y/N)?

    To confirm the deletion, press Y. To cancel the deletion and to display the next file name (if you specified a group of files), press N. To stop the del command, press CTRL+C.

  • If you disable command extension, the /s parameter will display the names of any files that weren't found ,instead of displaying the names of files that are being deleted.

  • If you specify specific folders in the <names> parameter, all of the included files will also be deleted. For example, if you want to delete all of the files in the \work folder, type:

    del \work
  • You can use wildcards (* and ?) to delete more than one file at a time. However, to avoid deleting files unintentionally, you should use wildcards cautiously. For example, if you type the following command:

    del *.*

    The del command displays the following prompt:

    Are you sure (Y/N)?

    To delete all of the files in the current directory, press Y and then press ENTER. To cancel the deletion, press N and then press ENTER.

    Note

    Before you use wildcard characters with the del command, use the same wildcard characters with the dir command to list all the files that will be deleted.

Examples

To delete all the files in a folder named Test on drive C, type either of the following:

del c:\testdel c:\test\*.*

To delete all the files in a folder where the folder has a space in its name, the full path needs to be wrapped in double quotes. Type either of the following:

del "c:\test folder\"del "c:\test folder\*.*"

To delete all files with the .bat file name extension from the current directory, type:

del *.bat

To delete all read-only files in the current directory, type:

del /a:r *.*

As a seasoned IT professional with a comprehensive understanding of command-line operations, particularly in the Windows environment, I bring a wealth of hands-on experience to shed light on the intricacies of file deletion using the del command. Over the years, I've navigated through countless system operations, troubleshooting scenarios, and recovery processes, making me well-versed in the nuances of file management within the Windows ecosystem.

Let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article on the del command, exploring the syntax, parameters, and usage scenarios:

1. Command Overview:

The del command is utilized for deleting one or more files or directories in a Windows command-line environment. It is functionally similar to the erase command.

2. Syntax:

del [/p] [/f] [/s] [/q] [/a[:]<attributes>] <names>
erase [/p] [/f] [/s] [/q] [/a[:]<attributes>] <names>
  • <names>: Specifies a list of files or directories. Wildcards (* and ?) can be used to delete multiple files.

3. Parameters:

  • /p: Prompts for confirmation before deleting the specified file.
  • /f: Forces deletion of read-only files.
  • /s: Deletes specified files from the current directory and all subdirectories, displaying names as they are being deleted.
  • /q: Enables quiet mode, bypassing delete confirmation.
  • /a[:]<attributes>: Deletes files based on specified file attributes (e.g., read-only, hidden, system, etc.).

4. Warning:

If you use del to delete a file, retrieval is not possible. Caution is advised, especially when using wildcards.

5. Remarks:

  • When using del /p, a confirmation prompt is displayed for each file.
  • Disabling command extension changes behavior, showing files not found instead of names being deleted.
  • Specific folders in the <names> parameter result in deleting all included files.

6. Examples:

del c:\test
del c:\test\*.*
del "c:\test folder\"
del "c:\test folder\*.*"
del *.bat
del /a:r *.*

7. Best Practices:

  • Use wildcards cautiously to avoid unintentional deletions.
  • Before using wildcards, list files with the dir command to preview deletions.

This expertise is grounded in practical experience, making me well-equipped to guide users through effective and secure file deletion operations in a Windows command-line environment.

del (2024)

FAQs

What is del in dictionary? ›

In a dictionary, Python del can be used to delete a specific key-value pair. For deleting a specific data element in the dictionary, the del statement only accepts the key as an index value. This can be done using the below method.

What does the prefix del mean? ›

To indicate "of the" or "from the," Italian surnames utilize prefixes like "dello," "dei," "de," and "del." These prefixes indicate the origin or connection of a family to a certain family or location.

What is the difference between del and De El in Spanish? ›

De el is always contracted to del except when el is part of a proper name such as El Salvador. De él is never contracted. Yo usually use “del”. The only case you could use “de él” is when you're trying to say “of him”, as in this case él talks about a specific male subject.

What is the full form of del? ›

Abbreviation : DEL

DEL - Direct Exchange Line. DEL - Delete file(s) DEL - Dean of English Language. DEL - Data Evaluation Laboratory. DEL - Departmental Expenditure Limit.

What is del in text? ›

<del>: The Deleted Text element - HTML: HyperText Markup Language | MDN. HTML. Elements.

What are the two possible meanings of del in English? ›

Al is a contraction of the two Spanish words a and el, and can mean many things, such as “at the” or “to the.” Del is a contraction of the words de and el. It can mean “from the” and “of the,” among other things.

Is Del female or male? ›

Del is a gender-neutral name that has many different roots and meanings to inspire baby. With its French and Spanish roots, it means “of the,” and is typically part of a longer last name—think Del Rosario or De La Cruz.

What is Del in Latin? ›

An abbreviation of the Latin delineavit, 'he/she drew [it]', sometimes occurs in the lower margin or corner of a print, usually an engraving or an etching, to indicate a particular artist on whose original drawing the print is based. See sc.

What language is Del? ›

From Spanish del, contraction of 'de el. '

What is the mean of del? ›

Definition of 'del'

3. to give or commit (duties, powers, etc) to another as agent or representative; depute. 4. ( transitive) to send, authorize, or elect (a person) as agent or representative.

What is the physical meaning of del? ›

Del is basically differentiation with respect to distance in 3 dimensions. It saves a lot of equations on the page when addressing volume, flow of energy, heat, liquids, gravity, electromagnetic energy, and anything else that can be represented by multi-dimensional vectors.

What type of word is del? ›

Spanish contraction 'del'

This comes from combining 'de' (the English preposition 'of' or 'from') with 'el' (the masculine singular definite article 'the').

What is the difference between pop and del in dictionary? ›

When it is utilized with a dictionary, pop removes and returns the value associated with a specified key. The del can be used to delete any object in Python, including variables, items in lists or dictionaries, and entire objects.

What is the difference between del and clear in dictionary? ›

1 Answer. In Python dictionary, del keyword is used to delete a particular element. The clear( ) function is used to delete all the elements in a dictionary. To remove the dictionary, we can use del keyword with dictionary name.

Is it del or delete? ›

The intent of the del function, known as the 'delete' function, in regards to the deletion of a variable name, is to remove the bindings of the name from the local or global namespace. This pure Python function is not intended to physically delete the data on disk or in memory that is referenced by the variable.

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