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`git rm` is used to **remove files from a Git repository** while recording that removal for the next commit.

That is, the command:

- removes the file **from the working directory**
- adds the removal to the **staging area**

## How `git rm` differs from plain `rm`

| Action | File removed | Git knows about the removal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `rm file.txt` | yes | no (needs `git add`) |
| `git rm file.txt` | yes | yes |

---

## Basic usage

```bash
git rm file.txt
git commit -m "Remove unused file"
```

---

## Main variants

### 1. Remove a file from the project completely

```bash
git rm src/old.js
```

---

### 2. Remove a file only from Git (keep it on disk)

```bash
git rm --cached config.env
```

Useful when:

- a file ended up in the repository by mistake
- it needs to be added to `.gitignore`

---

### 3. Remove a directory

```bash
git rm -r dist/
```

---

## Common use cases

- Removing outdated files
- Removing secrets from a repository
- Cleaning up unnecessary artifacts from a project
- Refactoring project structure

---

## Frequent mistakes

- Using `rm` instead of `git rm` and forgetting `git add`
- Removing a file without committing
- Removing an important file without `--cached`

---

## Checking the state

After removal:

```bash
git status
```

Shows:

```text
deleted: src/old.js
```

---

## Short answer for an interview

> `git rm` **removes a file from the working directory and at the same time stages its removal for a commit in Git.**

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