How do I write a script that cleans up its temp files even on errors?
Aug 11, 2026
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by John Britto
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1 min read
Quick Linux Tip #20 :
Try: TMPFILE=$(mktemp) && trap 'rm -f "$TMPFILE"' EXIT INT TERM
Info: mktemp creates a secure, unique file; trap catches signals like exit or Ctrl+C to guarantee cleanup.
Examples:
$ TMPDIR=$(mktemp -d) # Secure temp directory
$ trap 'rm -rf "$TMPDIR"' EXIT
$ mktemp -t script-XXXXXX.log # Custom prefix
Note: Prevents dangling files during unexpected script crashes. Permissions default to 600 (owner-only), preventing local information leaks.
LinuxTeck.com
linuxteck@ubuntu:~$ TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
linuxteck@ubuntu:~$ echo $TMPFILE
/tmp/tmp.A3B5c7D9
linuxteck@ubuntu:~$ trap 'rm -f "$TMPFILE"' EXIT INT TERM
linuxteck@ubuntu:~$ ls -la $TMPFILE
-rw------- 1 linuxteck linuxteck 0 Jun 26 15:34 /tmp/tmp.A3B5c7D9
linuxteck@ubuntu:~$
About John Britto
John Britto Founder & Chief-Editor @LinuxTeck. A Computer Geek and Linux Intellectual having more than 20+ years of experience in Linux and Open Source technologies.
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