# Function std::fs::remove_dir_all

1.0.0 · source ·

    pub fn remove_dir_all<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> Result<()>

Expand description

Removes a directory at this path, after removing all its contents. Use carefully!

This function does not follow symbolic links and it will simply remove the symbolic link itself.

## Platform-specific behavior

This function currently corresponds to `openat`, `fdopendir`, `unlinkat` and `lstat` functions on Unix (except for macOS before version 10.10 and REDOX) and the `CreateFileW`, `GetFileInformationByHandleEx`, `SetFileInformationByHandle`, and `NtCreateFile` functions on Windows. Note that, this may change in the future.

On macOS before version 10.10 and REDOX, as well as when running in Miri for any target, this function is not protected against time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race conditions, and should not be used in security-sensitive code on those platforms. All other platforms are protected.

## Errors

See `fs::remove_file` and `fs::remove_dir`.

`remove_dir_all` will fail if `remove_dir` or `remove_file` fail on any constituent paths, including the root path. As a result, the directory you are deleting must exist, meaning that this function is not idempotent.

Consider ignoring the error if validating the removal is not required for your use case.

## Examples

    use std::fs;

    fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
        fs::remove_dir_all("/some/dir")?;
        Ok(())
    }

Run