# Find all file names ending with .pdf and remove them find -name \*.pdf | xargs rm # The above, however, is preferable written without xargs: find -name \*.pdf -exec rm {} \+ # Or, for find's own functionality, it's best as: find -name \*.pdf -delete # Find all file name ending with .pdf and remove them # (bulletproof version: handles filenames with \n and skips *.pdf directories) # -r = --no-run-if-empty # -n10 = group by 10 files find -name \*.pdf -type f -print0 | xargs -0rn10 rm # If file name contains spaces you should use this instead find -name \*.pdf | xargs -I{} rm -rf '{}' # Will show every .pdf like: # &toto.pdf= # &titi.pdf= # -n1 => One file by one file. ( -n2 => 2 files by 2 files ) find -name \*.pdf | xargs -I{} -n1 echo '&{}=' # The above is, however, much faster and easier without xargs: find -name \*.pdf -printf "%p\n" # Group words by three in a string seq 1 10 | xargs -n3