# phpman > man > groupdel(8)

[GROUPDEL(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GROUPDEL/8/markdown)                          System Management Commands                          [GROUPDEL(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GROUPDEL/8/markdown)



## NAME
       groupdel - delete a group

## SYNOPSIS
       **groupdel** [_options_] _GROUP_

## DESCRIPTION
       The **groupdel** command modifies the system account files, deleting all entries that refer to
       _GROUP_. The named group must exist.

## OPTIONS
       The options which apply to the **groupdel** command are:

### -h --help
           Display help message and exit.

### -R --root
           Apply changes in the _CHROOT_DIR_ directory and use the configuration files from the
           _CHROOT_DIR_ directory.

### -P --prefix
           Apply changes in the _PREFIX_DIR_ directory and use the configuration files from the
           _PREFIX_DIR_ directory. This option does not chroot and is intended for preparing a
           cross-compilation target. Some limitations: NIS and LDAP users/groups are not verified.
           PAM authentication is using the host files. No SELINUX support.

## CAVEATS
       You may not remove the primary group of any existing user. You must remove the user before
       you remove the group.

       You should manually check all file systems to ensure that no files remain owned by this
       group.

## CONFIGURATION
       The following configuration variables in /etc/login.defs change the behavior of this tool:

### MAX___MEMBERS___PER___GROUP (number)
           Maximum members per group entry. When the maximum is reached, a new group entry (line) is
           started in /etc/group (with the same name, same password, and same GID).

           The default value is 0, meaning that there are no limits in the number of members in a
           group.

           This feature (split group) permits to limit the length of lines in the group file. This
           is useful to make sure that lines for NIS groups are not larger than 1024 characters.

           If you need to enforce such limit, you can use 25.

           Note: split groups may not be supported by all tools (even in the Shadow toolsuite). You
           should not use this variable unless you really need it.

## FILES
       /etc/group
           Group account information.

       /etc/gshadow
           Secure group account information.

## EXIT VALUES
       The **groupdel** command exits with the following values:

       _0_
           success

       _2_
           invalid command syntax

       _6_
           specified group doesn't exist

       _8_
           can't remove user's primary group

       _10_
           can't update group file

## SEE ALSO
       [**chfn**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/chfn/1/markdown), [**chsh**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/chsh/1/markdown), [**passwd**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/passwd/1/markdown), [**gpasswd**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/gpasswd/8/markdown), [**groupadd**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/groupadd/8/markdown), [**groupmod**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/groupmod/8/markdown), [**useradd**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/useradd/8/markdown), [**userdel**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/userdel/8/markdown),
       [**usermod**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/usermod/8/markdown).



shadow-utils 4.8.1                           02/06/2024                                  [GROUPDEL(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/GROUPDEL/8/markdown)