Which command will remove files from a directory before extracting a tar archive?

The command that effectively handles the removal of files from a directory before extracting a tar archive is not the option indicated. The correct choice involves understanding how the tar command operates during the extraction process.

When extracting files from a tar archive, the default behavior of the tar command is to overwrite existing files in the target directory without any additional flags. This means that if a file being extracted has the same name as an existing file, the existing file will be replaced with the extracted file's contents. This makes it akin to removing the existing file and adding the new one in its place.

The other options offered are not viable solutions for this scenario. The option for removing files before an extraction command does not exist in the form presented, and the command structure offered does not perform the intended function. Understanding this behavior allows users to effectively manage file overwriting during extraction processes with tar, ensuring that the latest content is always retained.