Today, I found a file on my server named -config.ini that starts with a hyphen. It seems someone created it as a backup. The problem is, the starting hyphen is treated as a command-line option, making it tricky to delete. If you’re facing the same issue, don’t worry—this guide will show you how to remove it safely.
Files with a “-” at the beginning of their name can be removed using the rm command with additional care since the - is interpreted as an option by most Unix commands.
Delete file name begin with hyphen
Here’s how you can safely remove such files using -- to stop option parsing
rm -- -config.ini
The -- tells rm to stop interpreting anything that follows as an option, treating -config.ini as a file name.
Using Relative Path
Another way is to specify the file using its relative or absolute path:
rm ./-config.ini
This approach works because the ./ explicitly indicates the file in the current directory.
Confirm Before Deleting
If you’re not sure and want to double-check the file before deleting:
ls -- -config.ini
Conclusion
Deleting files that start with a hyphen may seem tricky at first, but it’s actually quite simple when you know the right steps. By using the methods in this guide, you can safely remove such files without any trouble. I hope this helps you solve the problem easily!
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