Delete a document

Finds a single document in a collection using filter and sort clauses, and then deletes that document.

This method and the method to find and delete a document have the same database effect but differ in their return value. This method returns details about the success of the deletion. The method to find and delete a document returns the document that was found and deleted.

Ready to write code? See the examples for this method to get started. If you are new to the Data API, check out the quickstart.

Result

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

Deletes a document that matches the specified parameters and returns a CollectionDeleteResult object that includes details about the success of the operation.

Example response:

CollectionDeleteResult(deleted_count=1, raw_results=...)

Deletes a document that matches the specified parameters and returns a promise that resolves to a CollectionDeleteOneResult object that includes details about the success of the operation.

Example resolved response:

{ deletedCount: 1 }

Deletes a document that matches the specified parameters and returns CollectionDeleteResult, which includes the number of documents that were deleted.

Deletes a document that matches the specified parameters and returns an object that includes details about the number of documents that were deleted.

Example response:

{
  "status": {
    "deletedCount": 1
  }
}

Parameters

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

Use the delete_one method, which belongs to the astrapy.Collection class.

Method signature 
delete_one(
  filter: Dict[str, Any],
  *,
  sort: Dict[str, Any],
  general_method_timeout_ms: int,
  request_timeout_ms: int,
  timeout_ms: int,
) -> CollectionDeleteResult
Name Type Summary

filter

Dict[str, Any]

Optional. An object that defines filter criteria using the Data API filter syntax. The method only finds documents that match this filter criteria.

For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for collections.

Filters can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in a filter.

sort

Dict[str, Any]

Optional. Sorts documents by one or more fields, or performs a vector search.

For more information, see Sort clauses for collections.

Sort clauses can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in sort queries.

For vector searches, this parameter can use either $vector or $vectorize.

general_method_timeout_ms

int

Optional. The maximum time, in milliseconds, that the client should wait for the underlying HTTP request.

Default: The default value for the collection. This default is 30 seconds unless you specified a different default when you initialized the Collection or DataAPIClient object. For more information, see Timeout options.

request_timeout_ms

int

Optional. An alias for general_method_timeout_ms. Since this method issues a single HTTP request, general_method_timeout_ms and request_timeout_ms are equivalent.

timeout_ms

int

Optional. An alias for general_method_timeout_ms.

Use the deleteOne method, which belongs to the Collection class.

Method signature 
async deleteOne(
  filter: CollectionFilter<Schema>,
  options?: {
    sort?: Sort,
    timeout?: number | TimeoutDescriptor,
  },
): CollectionDeleteOneResult
Name Type Summary

filter

CollectionFilter<Schema>

An object that defines filter criteria using the Data API filter syntax. The method only finds documents that match this filter criteria.

For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for collections.

Filters can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in a filter.

options

CollectionDeleteOneOptions

Optional. The options for this operation. See the options table for more details.
Properties of options
Name Type Summary

sort

Sort

Optional. Sorts documents by one or more fields, or performs a vector search.

For more information, see Sort clauses for collections.

Sort clauses can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in sort queries.

For vector searches, this parameter can use either $vector or $vectorize.

timeout

number | TimeoutDescriptor

Optional.

include::api-reference:partial$ts-timeout-single-request.adoc

Use the deleteOne method, which belongs to the com.datastax.astra.client.Collection class.

Method signature 
CollectionDeleteResult deleteOne(
  Filter filter
)
CollectionDeleteResult deleteOne(
  Filter filter,
  CollectionDeleteOneOptions options
)
Name Type Summary

filter

Filter

An object that defines filter criteria using the Data API filter syntax. The method only finds documents that match this filter criteria.

For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for collections.

Filters can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in a filter.

options

CollectionDeleteOneOptions

Optional. The options for this operation. See the methods of the `CollectionDeleteOneOptions ` class for more details.
Methods of the `CollectionDeleteOneOptions ` class:
Method Parameters Summary

sort()

float[] | String | Sort | Map<String, Object>

Optional. Sorts documents by one or more fields, or performs a vector search.

For more information, see Sort clauses for collections.

Sort clauses can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in sort queries.

For vector searches, this parameter can use either $vector or $vectorize.

Use the deleteOne command.

Command signature 
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/COLLECTION_NAME" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": FILTER,
    "sort": SORT
  }
}'
Name Type Summary

filter

object

An object that defines filter criteria using the Data API filter syntax. The method only finds documents that match this filter criteria.

For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for collections.

Filters can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in a filter.

sort

object

Optional. Sorts documents by one or more fields, or performs a vector search.

For more information, see Sort clauses for collections.

Sort clauses can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in sort queries.

For vector searches, this parameter can use either $vector or $vectorize.

Examples

The following examples demonstrate how to delete a document in a collection.

Delete a document by ID

All documents have a unique _id property. You can use a filter to find a document with a specific _id, and then delete that document.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing collection
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
collection = database.get_collection("COLLECTION_NAME")

# Delete a document
result = collection.delete_one(
    {"_id": "101"}
)

print(result)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

// Get an existing collection
const client = new DataAPIClient('ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN');
const database = client.db('ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT');
const collection = database.collection('COLLECTION_NAME');

// Delete a document
(async function () {
  const result = await collection.deleteOne(
    { _id: "101" }
  );

  console.log(result);
})();
package com.examples;

import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.Collection;
import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.definition.documents.Document;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filters;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.results.CollectionDeleteResult;

public class DeleteOne {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing collection
        Collection<Document> collection = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getCollection("COLLECTION_NAME");

        // Delete a document
        Filter filter = Filters.eq("_id", "101");
        CollectionDeleteResult result = collection.deleteOne(filter);
        System.out.println(result.getDeletedCount());
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_COLLECTION" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": {
      "_id": "101"
    }
  }
}'

Delete a document that matches a filter

You can use a filter to find a document that matches specific criteria. For example, you can find a document with an isCheckedOut value of false and a numberOfPages value less than 300.

For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for collections.

Filters can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in a filter.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing collection
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
collection = database.get_collection("COLLECTION_NAME")

# Delete a document
result = collection.delete_one(
    {
        "$and": [
            {"isCheckedOut": False},
            {"numberOfPages": {"$lt": 300}},
        ]
    }
)

print(result)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

// Get an existing collection
const client = new DataAPIClient('ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN');
const database = client.db('ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT');
const collection = database.collection('COLLECTION_NAME');

// Delete a document
(async function () {
  const result = await collection.deleteOne(
    {
      $and: [
        { isCheckedOut: false },
        { numberOfPages: { $lt: 300 } }
      ],
    }
  );

  console.log(result);
})();
package com.examples;

import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.Collection;
import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.definition.documents.Document;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filters;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.results.CollectionDeleteResult;

public class DeleteOne {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing collection
        Collection<Document> collection = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getCollection("COLLECTION_NAME");

        // Delete a document
        Filter filter = Filters.and(
          Filters.eq("isCheckedOut", false),
          Filters.lt("numberOfPages", 300));
        CollectionDeleteResult result = collection.deleteOne(filter);
        System.out.println(result.getDeletedCount());
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_COLLECTION" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": {"$and": [
      {"isCheckedOut": false},
      {"numberOfPages": {"$lt": 300}}
    ]}
  }
}'

Delete a document that is most similar to a search vector

To find the document whose $vector value is most similar to a given vector, use a sort with the vector embeddings that you want to match. For more information, see Find data with vector search.

Vector search is only available for vector-enabled collections. For more information, see $vector and $vectorize in collections.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing collection
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
collection = database.get_collection("COLLECTION_NAME")

# Delete a document
result = collection.delete_one(
    {},
    sort={"$vector": [0.1, 0.2, 0.3]},
)

print(result)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

// Get an existing collection
const client = new DataAPIClient('ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN');
const database = client.db('ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT');
const collection = database.collection('COLLECTION_NAME');

// Delete a document
(async function () {
  const result = await collection.deleteOne(
    {},
    { sort: { $vector: [0.1, 0.2, 0.3] } },
  );

  console.log(result);
})();
package com.examples;

import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.Collection;
import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.definition.documents.Document;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filters;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.options.CollectionDeleteOneOptions;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.results.CollectionDeleteResult;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Sort;

public class DeleteOne {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing collection
        Collection<Document> collection = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getCollection("COLLECTION_NAME");

        // Delete a document
        Filter filter = new Filter();
        CollectionDeleteOneOptions options = new CollectionDeleteOneOptions()
            .sort(Sort.vector(new float[] {0.12f, 0.52f, 0.32f}));
        CollectionDeleteResult result = collection.deleteOne(filter, options);
        System.out.println(result.getDeletedCount());
    }
}

You can provide the search vector as an array of floats, or you can use $binary to provide the search vector as a Base64-encoded string. $binary can be more performant.

  • Array of floats

  • $binary

curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_COLLECTION" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": {},
    "sort": {
      "$vector": [.12, .52, .32]
    }
  }
}'
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_COLLECTION" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": {},
    "sort": {
      "$vector": {"$binary": "PfXCjz8FHrg+o9cK"}
    }
  }
}'

Delete a document that is most similar to a search string

To find the document whose $vector value is most similar to the $vector value of a given search string, use a sort with the search string that you want to vectorize and match. For more information, see Find data with vector search.

Vector search with vectorize is only available for collections that have vectorize enabled. For more information, see $vector and $vectorize in collections.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing collection
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
collection = database.get_collection("COLLECTION_NAME")

# Delete a document
result = collection.delete_one(
    {},
    sort={"$vectorize": "Text to vectorize"}
)

print(result)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

// Get an existing collection
const client = new DataAPIClient('ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN');
const database = client.db('ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT');
const collection = database.collection('COLLECTION_NAME');

// Delete a document
(async function () {
  const result = await collection.deleteOne(
    {},
    { sort: { $vectorize: "Text to vectorize" } }
  );

  console.log(result);
})();
package com.examples;

import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.Collection;
import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.definition.documents.Document;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filters;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.options.CollectionDeleteOneOptions;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.results.CollectionDeleteResult;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Sort;

public class DeleteOne {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing collection
        Collection<Document> collection = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getCollection("COLLECTION_NAME");

        // Delete a document
        Filter filter = new Filter();
        CollectionDeleteOneOptions options = new CollectionDeleteOneOptions()
            .sort(Sort.vectorize("Text to vectorize"));
        CollectionDeleteResult result = collection.deleteOne(filter, options);
        System.out.println(result.getDeletedCount());
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_COLLECTION" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": {},
    "sort": { "$vectorize": "Text to vectorize" }
  }
}'

Delete a document after applying a non-vector sort

You can use a sort clause to sort documents by one or more fields.

For more information, see Sort clauses for collections.

Sort clauses can use only indexed fields. If you apply selective indexing when you create a collection, you can’t reference non-indexed fields in sort queries.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient
from astrapy.constants import SortMode

# Get an existing collection
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
collection = database.get_collection("COLLECTION_NAME")

# Find a document
result = collection.delete_one(
    {"metadata.language": "English"},
    sort={
        "rating": SortMode.ASCENDING,
        "title": SortMode.DESCENDING,
    }
)

print(result)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

// Get an existing collection
const client = new DataAPIClient('ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN');
const database = client.db('ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT');
const collection = database.collection('COLLECTION_NAME');

// Find a document
(async function () {
  const result = await collection.deleteOne(
    { "metadata.language": "English" },
    { sort: {
      rating: 1, // ascending
      title: -1 // descending
    } }
  );

  console.log(result);
})();
package com.examples;

import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.Collection;
import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.definition.documents.Document;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filters;
import com.datastax.astra.client.collections.commands.options.CollectionDeleteOneOptions;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Sort;

public class DeleteOne {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing collection
        Collection<Document> collection = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getCollection("COLLECTION_NAME");

        // Delete a document
        Filter filter = Filters.and(
          Filters.eq("isCheckedOut", false),
          Filters.lt("numberOfPages", 300));
        CollectionDeleteOneOptions options = new CollectionDeleteOneOptions()
            .sort(Sort.ascending("rating"), Sort.descending("title"));
        CollectionDeleteResult result = collection.deleteOne(filter, options);
        System.out.println(result.getDeletedCount());
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_COLLECTION" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteOne": {
    "filter": { "metadata.language": "English" },
    "sort": {
      "rating": 1,
      "title": -1
    }
  }
}'

Client reference

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

For more information, see the client reference.

For more information, see the client reference.

For more information, see the client reference.

Client reference documentation is not applicable for HTTP.

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