---
title: influxdb3 delete database
description: The influxdb3 delete database command deletes a database.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/core/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/database/
estimated_tokens: 982
product: InfluxDB 3 Core
version: core
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/core/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/database/
date: '2026-07-11T10:53:18+00:00'
lastmod: '2026-07-11T10:53:18+00:00'
---

The `influxdb3 delete database` command deletes a database.

## Usage

```bash
# Syntax
influxdb3 delete database [OPTIONS] <DATABASE_NAME>
```

## Arguments

* **DATABASE\_NAME**: The name of the database to delete. Valid database names are alphanumeric and start with a letter or number. Dashes (`-`) and underscores (`_`) are allowed.

  Environment variable: `INFLUXDB3_DATABASE_NAME`

## Options

|Option|                 |                                                 Description                                                  |
|------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `-H` |    `--host`     |             Host URL of the running InfluxDB 3 Core server (default is `http://127.0.0.1:8181`)              |
|      | `--hard-delete` |When to hard delete data (never/now/default/timestamp). Default behavior is a soft delete that allows recovery|
|      |    `--token`    |                                             Authentication token                                             |
|      |   `--tls-ca`    |            Path to a custom TLS certificate authority (for self-signed or internal certificates)             |
|      |`--tls-no-verify`|Disable TLS certificate verification (**Not recommended in production**, useful for self-signed certificates) |
| `-h` |    `--help`     |                                            Print help information                                            |
|      |  `--help-all`   |                                       Print detailed help information                                        |

### Option environment variables

You can use the following environment variables to set command options:

|  Environment Variable   |     Option      |
|-------------------------|-----------------|
|  `INFLUXDB3_HOST_URL`   |    `--host`     |
| `INFLUXDB3_AUTH_TOKEN`  |    `--token`    |
|`INFLUXDB3_TLS_NO_VERIFY`|`--tls-no-verify`|

## Examples

* [Delete a database](#delete-a-database)

* [Delete a database while specifying the token inline](#delete-a-database-while-specifying-the-token-inline)

* [Hard delete a database immediately](#hard-delete-a-database-immediately)

* [Hard delete a database at a specific time](#hard-delete-a-database-at-a-specific-time)

In the examples below, replace the following:

* `DATABASE_NAME`:
  Database name
* `AUTH_TOKEN`:
  Authentication token

### Delete a database

```bash
influxdb3 delete database DATABASE_NAME
```

### Delete a database while specifying the token inline

```bash
influxdb3 delete database --token AUTH_TOKEN DATABASE_NAME
```

### Hard delete a database immediately

Permanently delete a database and all its data immediately without the ability to recover.

```bash
influxdb3 delete database --hard-delete now DATABASE_NAME
```

### Hard delete a database at a specific time

Schedule a database for permanent deletion at a specific timestamp.

```bash
influxdb3 delete database --hard-delete "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z" DATABASE_NAME
```
| Option |  | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Option |  | Description |
| -H | --host | Host URL of the running InfluxDB 3 Core server (default is  http://127.0.0.1:8181 ) |
|  | --hard-delete | When to hard delete data (never/now/default/timestamp). Default behavior is a soft delete that allows recovery |
|  | --token | Authentication token |
|  | --tls-ca | Path to a custom TLS certificate authority (for self-signed or internal certificates) |
|  | --tls-no-verify | Disable TLS certificate verification ( Not recommended in production , useful for self-signed certificates) |
| -h | --help | Print help information |
|  | --help-all | Print detailed help information |

| Environment Variable | Option |
| --- | --- |
| Environment Variable | Option |
| INFLUXDB3_HOST_URL | --host |
| INFLUXDB3_AUTH_TOKEN | --token |
| INFLUXDB3_TLS_NO_VERIFY | --tls-no-verify |