How to delete all files from current directory including current directory?

Question

How can I delete all files and subdirectories from current directory including current directory?

Answer 1

Under bash with GNU tools, I would do it like that (should be secure in most cases):

rm -rf -- "$(pwd -P)" && cd ..

not under bash and without GNU tools, I would use:

TMP=`pwd -P` && cd "`dirname $TMP`" && rm -rf "./`basename $TMP`" && unset TMP

why this more secure:

• end the argument list with -- in cases our directory starts with a dash (non-bash: ./ before the filename)
• pwd -P not just pwd in cases where we are not in a real directory but in a symlink pointing to it.
• "s around the argument in cases the directory contains spaces

some random info (bash version):

• the cd .. at the end can be omitted, but you would be in a non-existant directory otherwise...

EDIT: As kmkaplan noted, the -- thing is not necessary, as pwd returns the complete path name which always starts with / on UNIX

Answer 2

olddir=`pwd` && cd .. && rm -rf "$olddir"

The cd .. is needed, otherwise it will fail since you can't remove the current directory.