---
title: Delete predicate syntax
description: The InfluxDB /delete endpoint uses an InfluxQL-like predicate syntax to determine what data points to delete.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/reference/syntax/delete-predicate/
estimated_tokens: 957
product: InfluxDB Cloud (TSM)
version: cloud
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/reference/syntax/delete-predicate/
date: '2025-04-02T15:54:32-06:00'
lastmod: '2025-04-02T15:54:32-06:00'
---

InfluxDB uses an InfluxQL-like predicate syntax to determine what data[points](/influxdb/cloud/reference/glossary/#point) to delete.
InfluxDB uses the delete predicate to evaluate the [series keys](/influxdb/cloud/reference/glossary/#series-key)of points in the time range specified in the delete request.
Points with series keys that evaluate to `true` for the given predicate are deleted.
Points with series keys that evaluate to `false` are preserved.

A delete predicate is comprised of one or more [predicate expressions](/influxdb/cloud/reference/glossary/#predicate-expression).
The left operand of the predicate expression is the column name.
The right operand is the column value.
Operands are compared using [comparison operators](#comparison-operators).
Use [logical operators](#logical-operators) to combine two or more predicate expressions.

##### Example delete predicate

```sql
key1="value1" AND key2="value"
```

> [!Note]
> #### Predicates with special characters or keywords
>
> If your predicate contains keywords or strings with special characters, wrap each in escaped
> quotes to ensure the predicate string is parsed correctly.
>
> Because delete predicates follow [InfluxQL](/influxdb/cloud/reference/syntax/influxql) syntax, [any InfluxQL keyword](/influxdb/cloud/reference/syntax/influxql/spec/#keywords)that matches your tag name needs to be escaped. Keywords are case-insensitive.
>
> ```
> // Escaped due to the "-"
> "_measurement=\"example-dash\""
>
> // Escaped because "Name" is a keyword
> "_measurement=example and \"Name\"=predicate"
> ```

#### Column limitations when deleting data

**InfluxDB Cloud** supports deleting data by any column or tag***except*** the following:

* `_time`

* `_value`

## Logical operators

Logical operators join two or more predicate expressions.

|Operator|                                Description                                 |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `AND`  |Both left and right operands must be `true` for the expression to be `true`.|

## Comparison operators

Comparison operators compare left and right operands and return `true` or `false`.

|Operator|Description|   Example   |Result|
|--------|-----------|-------------|------|
|  `=`   | Equal to  |`"abc"="abc"`|`true`|

## Delete predicate examples

* [Delete points by measurement](#delete-points-by-measurement)

* [Delete points by field](#delete-points-by-field)

* [Delete points by tag set](#delete-points-by-tag-set)

### Delete points by measurement

The following will delete points in the `sensorData` measurement:

```sql
_measurement="sensorData"
```

### Delete points by field

The following will delete points with the `temperature` field:

```sql
_field="temperature"
```

### Delete points by tag set

The following will delete points from the `prod-1.4` host in the `us-west` region:

```sql
host="prod-1.4" AND region="us-west"
```

## Limitations

The delete predicate syntax has the following limitations.

* Delete predicates do not support regular expressions.
* Delete predicates do not support the `OR` logical operator.
* Delete predicates only support equality (`=`), not inequality (`!=`).
* Delete predicates can use any column or tag **except** `_time`

or `_value`.

#### Related

* [Delete data](/influxdb/cloud/write-data/delete-data/)
* [influx delete](/influxdb/cloud/reference/cli/influx/delete/)

[syntax](/influxdb/cloud/tags/syntax/)[delete](/influxdb/cloud/tags/delete/)
| Operator | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Operator | Description |
| AND | Both left and right operands must be  true  for the expression to be  true . |

| Operator | Description | Example | Result |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Operator | Description | Example | Result |
| = | Equal to | "abc"="abc" | true |