What is the difference between the 'rm' and 'rm -r' commands in Unix/Linux?

The rm command is used to delete files in Unix/Linux system. When using rm, you can only delete individual files, and if you try to delete a directory with rm, an error will be generated. On the other hand, the rm -r command is used to delete directories and their contents recursively.

When would you use each one?

• Use rm when you want to delete individual files or empty directories.
• Use rm -r when you want to delete directories and their contents recursively.

It is important to be cautious when using the rm -r command as it will not ask for confirmation before deleting files and directories. Make sure you are absolutely certain before using this command to avoid accidental deletion of important data.