Delete rows

Tables with the Data API are currently in public preview. Development is ongoing, and the features and functionality are subject to change. Astra DB Serverless, and the use of such, is subject to the DataStax Preview Terms.

Finds rows in a table using filter clauses, and then deletes those rows.

For general information about working with tables and rows, see About tables with the Data API.

Method signature

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

The following method belongs to the astrapy.Table class.

delete_many(
  filter: Dict[str, Any],
  *,
  general_method_timeout_ms: int,
  request_timeout_ms: int,
  timeout_ms: int,
) -> None

The following method belongs to the Table class.

async deleteMany(
  filter: TableFilter<Schema>,
  options?: {
    timeout?: number | TimeoutDescriptor,
  },
): void

The following methods belong to the com.datastax.astra.client.tables.Table class.

void deleteMany(Filter filter)
void deleteMany(
  Filter filter,
  TableDeleteManyOptions options
)
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {
    "filter": FILTER,
  }
}'

Result

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

Deletes rows that match the specified parameters. If no rows match the specified parameters, this method does not delete any rows.

Does not return anything.

Deletes rows that match the specified parameters. If no rows match the specified parameters, this method does not delete any rows.

Returns a promise that resolves once the operation completes.

Deletes rows that match the specified parameters. If no rows match the specified parameters, this method does not delete any rows.

Does not return anything.

Deletes rows that match the specified parameters. If no rows match the specified parameters, this method does not delete any rows.

Always returns a status.deletedCount of -1, regardless of whether a row was found and deleted.

Example response:

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

Parameters

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

Name Type Summary

filter

dict

A filter dictionary to specify the rows to delete.

  • If the filter is in the form {"primary_key_1": value1, "primary_key_2": value2 …​} and specifies the primary key in full, only the row matching that full primary key will be deleted.

  • If the table has partitionSort columns, some or all of them may be omitted from the filter. If there are multiple partitionSort, you can use the $eq, $ne, or range operators (such as $gt) on the last partitionSort column. A range of rows, always within a single partition, will be deleted.

  • If an empty filter, {}, is passed, this operation empties the table completely.

    An empty filter deletes all rows, completely emptying the table.

  • Other kinds of filtering clauses are forbidden.

delete_many filter examples

For example, if a table is partitioned by columns ["partition_key1", "partition_key2"] and has partition sort of "partition_sort1" and "partition_sort2" in that order:

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_key2": y, "partition_sort1": z, "partition_sort2": t}: deletes one row

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_key2": y, "partition_sort1": z}: deletes multiple rows

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_key2": y, "partition_sort1": z, "partition_sort2": {"$lt": q}}: deletes multiple rows

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_key2": y}: deletes all rows in the partition

  • {}: empties the table

Invalid filter examples:

  • {"partition_key1": x}: incomplete partition key

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_sort1" z}: incomplete partition key

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_key2": y, "partition_sort1": {"$lt": r}, "partition_sort2": t}: inequality on a non-least-significant partition sort column

  • {"partition_key1": x, "partition_key2": y, "partition_sort2": t}: cannot skip partition_sort1

For information about operators, see Filter operators for tables.

general_method_timeout_ms

int | None

A timeout, in milliseconds, to impose on the underlying API request. If not provided, the Table defaults apply. This parameter is aliased as request_timeout_ms and timeout_ms for convenience.
Name Type Summary

filter

TableFilter

An object containing the filter to apply to the table to determine which rows to delete.

It can be empty or contain key-value pairs that determine the rows to delete.

An empty filter deletes all rows, completely emptying the table.

If not empty, the contents of filter depends on the table’s primary key definition:

  • For single-column primary keys, filter must include the primary key, and it cannot include any other columns.

  • For composite primary keys, filter must include all partition keys, and it cannot include any columns outside of the primary key definition.

  • For compound primary keys, filter must include all partition keys. It can include optional clustering keys, but it cannot include columns outside of the primary key definition.

    If you include clustering keys, you must include them in the order specified in the primary key definition. You can omit clustering keys, but you can’t skip any clustering keys. For example, if you have three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can include a and omit b and c. However, if you include b, then you must also include a.

    Additionally, clustering keys allow only the $eq operator, with the exception of the last clustering key in the table’s primary key definition, which allows $eq, $ne, or range operators ($gt, $gte, $lt, and $lte). For example, if your table has three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can only use range operators with c.

For information about operators, see Filter operators for tables.

options.timeout?

WithTimeout

The client-side timeout for this operation.
Name Type Summary

filter

Filter

A filter expressing which condition the returned row must satisfy, which can be empty or use operators to compare columns with literal values. Filters can be instantiated with its constructor and specialized with method where(..) or leverage the class Filters

If not empty, the contents of filter depends on the table’s primary key definition:

* For single-column primary keys, filter must include the primary key, and it cannot include any other columns. * For composite primary keys, filter must include all partition keys, and it cannot include any columns outside of the primary key definition. * For compound primary keys, filter must include all partition keys. It can include optional clustering keys, but it cannot include columns outside of the primary key definition. + If you include clustering keys, you must include them in the order specified in the primary key definition. You can omit clustering keys, but you can’t skip any clustering keys. For example, if you have three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can include a and omit b and c. However, if you include b, then you must also include a. + Additionally, clustering keys allow only the $eq operator, with the exception of the last clustering key in the table’s primary key definition, which allows $eq, $ne, or range operators ($gt, $gte, $lt, and $lte). For example, if your table has three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can only use range operators with c.

For information about operators, see Filter operators for tables.

options

TableDeleteManyOptions

Operations to be applied to the delete operation like (mostly) timeout.
Name Type Summary

deleteMany

command

The Data API command to delete any rows in a table that match a given filter.

filter

object

Can be empty or contain key-value pairs that determine the rows to delete.

An empty filter deletes all rows, completely emptying the table.

If not empty, the contents of filter depends on the table’s primary key definition:

  • For single-column primary keys, filter must include the primary key, and it cannot include any other columns.

  • For composite primary keys, filter must include all partition keys, and it cannot include any columns outside of the primary key definition.

  • For compound primary keys, filter must include all partition keys. It can include optional clustering keys, but it cannot include columns outside of the primary key definition.

    If you include clustering keys, you must include them in the order specified in the primary key definition. You can omit clustering keys, but you can’t skip any clustering keys. For example, if you have three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can include a and omit b and c. However, if you include b, then you must also include a.

    Additionally, clustering keys allow only the $eq operator, with the exception of the last clustering key in the table’s primary key definition, which allows $eq, $ne, or range operators ($gt, $gte, $lt, and $lte). For example, if your table has three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can only use range operators with c.

For information about operators, see Filter operators for tables.

Examples

The following examples demonstrate how to delete rows in a table.

Delete a row by primary key

If the filter specifies the full primary key, only the row matching that full primary key is deleted.

In the following example, the table has a composite primary key with the columns title and author.

For more information, see Primary keys in tables and Filter operators for tables.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing table
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
table = database.get_table("TABLE_NAME")

# Delete rows
table.delete_many(
    {
        "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
        "author": "John Anthony"
    }
)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

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

// Delete rows
(async function () {
  const result = await table.deleteMany(
    {
      title: "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
      author: "John Anthony"
    }
  );

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

import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.definition.rows.Row;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.Table;

import java.util.Map;

public class DeleteMany {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing table
        Table<Row> table = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getTable("TABLE_NAME");

        // Delete rows
        Filter filter = new Filter(Map.of(
            "title", "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
            "author", "John Anthony"));
        table.deleteMany(filter);
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {
    "filter": {
      "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
      "author": "John Anthony"
    }
  }
}'

Delete rows in a table with a single-column primary key

If the table has a single-column primary key, the filter must include the column in the primary key, and it cannot include any other columns.

In the following example, the table has a single-column primary key with the column title.

For more information, see Primary keys in tables and Filter operators for tables.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing table
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
table = database.get_table("TABLE_NAME")

# Delete rows
table.delete_many(
    {
        "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
    }
)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

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

// Delete rows
(async function () {
  const result = await table.deleteMany(
    {
      title: "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
    }
  );

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

import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.definition.rows.Row;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.Table;

import java.util.Map;

public class DeleteMany {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing table
        Table<Row> table = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getTable("TABLE_NAME");

        // Delete rows
        Filter filter = new Filter(Map.of(
            "title", "Hidden Shadows of the Past"));
        table.deleteMany(filter);
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {
    "filter": {
      "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past"
    }
  }
}'

Delete rows in a table with a composite primary key

If the table has a composite primary key, the filter must include all columns in the primary key definition (all partition keys), and it cannot include any other columns.

In the following example, the table has a composite primary key with the columns title and author.

For more information, see Primary keys in tables and Filter operators for tables.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing table
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
table = database.get_table("TABLE_NAME")

# Delete rows
table.delete_many(
    {
        "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
        "author": "John Anthony"
    }
)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

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

// Delete rows
(async function () {
  const result = await table.deleteMany(
    {
      title: "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
      author: "John Anthony"
    }
  );

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

import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.definition.rows.Row;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.Table;

import java.util.Map;

public class DeleteMany {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing table
        Table<Row> table = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getTable("TABLE_NAME");

        // Delete rows
        Filter filter = new Filter(Map.of(
            "title", "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
            "author", "John Anthony"));
        table.deleteMany(filter);
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {
    "filter": {
      "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
      "author": "John Anthony"
    }
  }
}'

Delete rows in a table with a compound primary key

If the table has a compound primary key, the filter must include all of the partition (grouping) columns in the primary key.

The filter can also include clustering (sorting) columns from the primary key:

  • The order of the clustering columns in the filter must match the order in the primary key definition. You can omit clustering keys, but you can’t skip any clustering keys. For example, if you have three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can include a and omit b and c. However, if you include b, then you must also include a.

  • The last clustering column can use range operators ($gt, $gte, $lt, and $lte) or the $eq operator. All other clustering columns can only use the $eq operator. For example, if your table has three clustering keys, a, b, and c, then you can only use range operators with c.

The filter cannot include any other columns.

In the following example, the table has a compound primary key with the partition column title and the clustering column rating.

For more information, see Primary keys in tables and Filter operators for tables.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing table
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
table = database.get_table("TABLE_NAME")

# Delete rows
table.delete_many(
    {
        "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
        "rating": {"$gte": 4}
    }
)
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

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

// Delete rows
(async function () {
  const result = await table.deleteMany(
    {
      title: "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
      rating: {$gte: 4}
    }
  );

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

import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filters;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.definition.rows.Row;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.Table;

public class DeleteMany {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing table
        Table<Row> table = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getTable("TABLE_NAME");

        // Delete rows
        Filter filter = new Filter(Map.of(
          "title", "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
          "rating", Map.of("$gte",4))
        );

        table.deleteMany(filter);
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {
    "filter": {
      "title": "Hidden Shadows of the Past",
      "rating": {"$gte": 4}
    }
  }
}'

Delete all rows

To delete all rows, use an empty filter.

  • Python

  • TypeScript

  • Java

  • curl

from astrapy import DataAPIClient

# Get an existing table
client = DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
database = client.get_database("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
table = database.get_table("TABLE_NAME")

# Delete rows
table.delete_many({})
import { DataAPIClient } from '@datastax/astra-db-ts';

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

// Delete rows
(async function () {
  const result = await table.deleteMany({});

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

import com.datastax.astra.client.DataAPIClient;
import com.datastax.astra.client.core.query.Filter;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.definition.rows.Row;
import com.datastax.astra.client.tables.Table;

public class DeleteMany {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get an existing table
        Table<Row> table = new DataAPIClient("ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN")
            .getDatabase("ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT")
            .getTable("TABLE_NAME");

        // Delete rows
        table.deleteMany(new Filter());
    }
}
curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {
    "filter": {}
  }
}'

Similarly, an empty deleteMany object deletes all rows.

curl -sS -L -X POST "ASTRA_DB_API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/ASTRA_DB_KEYSPACE/ASTRA_DB_TABLE" \
--header "Token: ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "deleteMany": {}
}'

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.

Was this helpful?

Give Feedback

How can we improve the documentation?

© 2025 DataStax | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Manage Privacy Choices

Apache, Apache Cassandra, Cassandra, Apache Tomcat, Tomcat, Apache Lucene, Apache Solr, Apache Hadoop, Hadoop, Apache Pulsar, Pulsar, Apache Spark, Spark, Apache TinkerPop, TinkerPop, Apache Kafka and Kafka are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation or its subsidiaries in Canada, the United States and/or other countries. Kubernetes is the registered trademark of the Linux Foundation.

General Inquiries: +1 (650) 389-6000, info@datastax.com