The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 7
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008, 2016 Edition
Copyright © 2001-2016 The IEEE and The Open Group

#### NAME

> remove - remove a file

#### SYNOPSIS

> ``#include <stdio.h>
> int remove(const char *`path`);
> ``

#### DESCRIPTION

> [CX] The functionality described on this reference page is aligned with the ISO C standard. Any conflict between the requirements described here and the ISO C standard is unintentional. This volume of POSIX.1-2008 defers to the ISO C standard.

> The remove() function shall cause the file named by the pathname pointed to by path to be no longer accessible by that name. A subsequent attempt to open that file using that name shall fail, unless it is created anew.

> [CX] If path does not name a directory, remove(path) shall be equivalent to unlink(path).

> If path names a directory, remove(path) shall be equivalent to rmdir(path).

#### RETURN VALUE

> [CX] Refer to rmdir or unlink.

#### ERRORS

> [CX] Refer to rmdir or unlink.

The following sections are informative.

#### EXAMPLES

> ##### Removing Access to a File

> The following example shows how to remove access to a file named /home/cnd/old_mods.

>     #include <stdio.h>

>     int status;
>     ...
>     status = remove("/home/cnd/old_mods");

#### APPLICATION USAGE

> None.

#### RATIONALE

> None.

#### FUTURE DIRECTIONS

> None.

#### SEE ALSO

> rmdir, unlink

> XBD <stdio.h>

#### CHANGE HISTORY

> First released in Issue 3. Included for alignment with the POSIX.1-1988 standard and the ISO C standard.

#### Issue 6

> Extensions beyond the ISO C standard are marked.

> The following new requirements on POSIX implementations derive from alignment with the Single UNIX Specification:

> - The DESCRIPTION, RETURN VALUE, and ERRORS sections are updated so that if path is not a directory, remove() is equivalent to unlink(), and if it is a directory, it is equivalent to rmdir().

End of informative text.

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