Using find with Recursive Options

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 42 views

Introduction

When working with files and directories on macOS, it's common to encounter issues with deleting files using the rm command, especially when dealing with subfolders and wildcards. In this article, we'll explore the issue of using rm -R with wildcards to delete files on subfolders, and provide a solution to overcome this limitation.

Understanding the Issue

The rm command is a powerful tool for deleting files and directories on macOS. However, when using the -R option with wildcards, it can lead to unexpected behavior. The -R option tells rm to recursively delete files and directories, but when combined with wildcards, it can delete more files than intended.

For example, if you have a directory structure like this:

Music/
  Album1/
    song1.mp3
    song2.mp3
  Album2/
    song3.mp3
    song4.mp3

And you want to delete all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders, you might use the following command:

rm -R Music/*.mp3

However, this command will delete all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory, including the files in the subfolders. This might not be the intended behavior, especially if you have duplicate files with the same name in different subfolders.

The Problem with Wildcards and -R

The issue with using rm -R with wildcards is that the -R option is not designed to work with wildcards. When rm encounters a wildcard, it will expand the wildcard to a list of files and then delete them recursively. However, this can lead to unexpected behavior, especially if the wildcard matches files in subfolders.

For example, if you have a directory structure like this:

Music/
  Album1/
    song1.mp3
    song2.mp3
  Album2/
    song3.mp3
    song4.mp3
  Album3/
    song5.mp3
    song6.mp3

And you want to delete all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders, you might use the following command:

rm -R Music/*1.mp3

However, this command will delete all files with the extension .mp3 that match the pattern *1.mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders, including the files in the subfolders. This might not be the intended behavior, especially if you have duplicate files with the same name in different subfolders.

A Solution to the Problem

To overcome the limitation of using rm -R with wildcards, you can use the find command instead. The find command is a powerful tool for searching and deleting files based on various criteria, including file names and extensions.

For example, to delete all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders, you can use the following command:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete

This command will search for all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders that match the pattern *1.mp3, and then delete them.

Using find with Recursive Options

If you want to delete all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders, including the files in the subfolders, you can use the -r option with the find command:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete -r

This command will search for all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders that match the pattern *1.mp3, and then delete them recursively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using rm -R with wildcards can lead to unexpected behavior when deleting files on subfolders. To overcome this limitation, you can use the find command instead. The find command is a powerful tool for searching and deleting files based on various criteria, including file names and extensions. By using the find command with the -r option, you can delete all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders, including the files in the subfolders.

Additional Tips and Tricks

When using the find command, make sure to use the -type f option to specify that you want to search for files only.
When using the find command, make sure to use the -name option to specify the file name pattern you want to search for.
When using the find command, make sure to use the -delete option to specify that you want to delete the files that match the search criteria.
When using the find command, make sure to use the -r option to specify that you want to delete the files recursively.

Example Use Cases

Deleting all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete

*   Deleting all files with the extension `.mp3` in the `Music` directory and its subfolders, including the files in the subfolders:
    ```bash
find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete -r

Deleting all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders that match the pattern *1.mp3:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete

*   Deleting all files with the extension `.mp3` in the `Music` directory and its subfolders that match the pattern `*1.mp3`, including the files in the subfolders:
    ```bash
find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete -r

Conclusion

Q: What is the issue with using rm -R with wildcards on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: The issue with using rm -R with wildcards on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1) is that the -R option is not designed to work with wildcards. When rm encounters a wildcard, it will expand the wildcard to a list of files and then delete them recursively. However, this can lead to unexpected behavior, especially if the wildcard matches files in subfolders.

Q: How can I delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: To delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1), you can use the find command instead of rm -R. The find command is a powerful tool for searching and deleting files based on various criteria, including file names and extensions.

Q: What is the syntax for using find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: The syntax for using find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1) is:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete

This command will search for all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders that match the pattern *1.mp3, and then delete them.

Q: How can I delete files on subfolders recursively using find on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: To delete files on subfolders recursively using find on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1), you can add the -r option to the find command:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete -r

This command will search for all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders that match the pattern *1.mp3, and then delete them recursively.

Q: What are some additional tips and tricks for using find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: Some additional tips and tricks for using find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1) include:

Using the -type f option to specify that you want to search for files only.
Using the -name option to specify the file name pattern you want to search for.
Using the -delete option to specify that you want to delete the files that match the search criteria.
Using the -r option to specify that you want to delete the files recursively.

Q: What are some example use cases for using find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: Some example use cases for using find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1) include:

Deleting all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete

*   Deleting all files with the extension `.mp3` in the `Music` directory and its subfolders, including the files in the subfolders:
    ```bash
find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete -r

Deleting all files with the extension .mp3 in the Music directory and its subfolders that match the pattern *1.mp3:

find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete

*   Deleting all files with the extension `.mp3` in the `Music` directory and its subfolders that match the pattern `*1.mp3`, including the files in the subfolders:
    ```bash
find Music -type f -name '*1.mp3' -delete -r

Q: Is there a way to undo the deletion of files using find on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: Unfortunately, there is no way to undo the deletion of files using find on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1). Once you delete a file using find, it is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Q: Can I use find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on other versions of macOS?

A: Yes, you can use find to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on other versions of macOS, including macOS High Sierra (10.13.6) and macOS Mojave (10.14.6).

Q: Are there any other tools or commands that I can use to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1)?

A: Yes, there are other tools and commands that you can use to delete files on subfolders using a wildcard on macOS Sequoia (15.3.1), including rm -i and rm -f. However, these commands may not provide the same level of flexibility and control as the find command.