To remove an empty directory, use the rmdir command as follows:
$ rmdir veggies3 $ |
If the directory still contains files or subdirectories, the rmdir command does not remove the directory.
To remove a directory and all its contents, including any subdirectories and files, use the rm command with the recursive option, -r.
$ rm -r veggies3 $ |
Directories that are removed with the rmdir command cannot be recovered, nor can directories and their contents removed with the rm -r command.