Delete indices

DELETE /{index}

Deletes one or more indices.

Path parameters

  • index string | array[string] Required

    Comma-separated list of indices to delete. You cannot specify index aliases. By default, this parameter does not support wildcards (*) or _all. To use wildcards or _all, set the action.destructive_requires_name cluster setting to false.

Query parameters

  • If false, the request returns an error if any wildcard expression, index alias, or _all value targets only missing or closed indices. This behavior applies even if the request targets other open indices.

  • expand_wildcards string | array[string]

    Type of index that wildcard patterns can match. If the request can target data streams, this argument determines whether wildcard expressions match hidden data streams. Supports comma-separated values, such as open,hidden. Valid values are: all, open, closed, hidden, none.

  • If false, the request returns an error if it targets a missing or closed index.

  • Period to wait for a connection to the master node. If no response is received before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error.

  • timeout string

    Period to wait for a response. If no response is received before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error.

Responses

  • 200 application/json
    Hide response attributes Show response attributes object
    • acknowledged boolean Required

      For a successful response, this value is always true. On failure, an exception is returned instead.

    • _shards object

      Additional properties are allowed.

      Hide _shards attributes Show _shards attributes object
DELETE /{index}
curl \
 -X DELETE http://api.example.com/{index}
Response examples (200)
{
  "acknowledged": true,
  "_shards": {
    "failed": 42.0,
    "successful": 42.0,
    "total": 42.0,
    "failures": [
      {
        "index": "string",
        "node": "string",
        "reason": {
          "type": "string",
          "reason": "string",
          "stack_trace": "string",
          "caused_by": {},
          "root_cause": [
            {}
          ],
          "suppressed": [
            {}
          ]
        },
        "shard": 42.0,
        "status": "string"
      }
    ],
    "skipped": 42.0
  }
}