Delete index API

Deletes an existing index.

  1. DELETE /my-index-000001

Request

DELETE /<index>

Path parameters

<index>

(Request, string) Comma-separated list or wildcard expression of indices to delete.

In this parameter, wildcard expressions match only open, concrete indices. You cannot delete an index using an alias.

To delete all indices, use _all or * . To disallow the deletion of indices with _all or wildcard expressions, change the action.destructive_requires_name cluster setting to true. You can update this setting in the elasticsearch.yml file or using the cluster update settings API.

You cannot delete the current write index of a data stream. To delete the index, you must roll over the data stream so a new write index is created. You can then use the delete index API to delete the previous write index.

Query parameters

allow_no_indices

(Optional, boolean) If true, the request does not return an error if a wildcard expression or _all value retrieves only missing or closed indices.

This parameter also applies to index aliases that point to a missing or closed index.

Defaults to true.

expand_wildcards

(Optional, string) Controls what kind of indices that wildcard expressions can expand to. Multiple values are accepted when separated by a comma, as in open,hidden. Valid values are:

  • all

    Expand to open and closed indices, including hidden indices.

    open

    Expand only to open indices.

    closed

    Expand only to closed indices.

    hidden

    Expansion of wildcards will include hidden indices. Must be combined with open, closed, or both.

    none

    Wildcard expressions are not accepted.

Defaults to open.

ignore_unavailable

(Optional, boolean) If true, missing or closed indices are not included in the response. Defaults to false.

master_timeout

(Optional, time units) Specifies the period of time 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. Defaults to 30s.

timeout

(Optional, time units) Specifies the period of time to wait for a response. If no response is received before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error. Defaults to 30s.