---
title: Delete a database
description: Use the influxdb3 CLI, HTTP API, or InfluxDB 3 Explorer to delete a database from InfluxDB 3 Enterprise.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/databases/delete/
estimated_tokens: 2791
product: InfluxDB 3 Enterprise
version: enterprise
---

# Delete a database

Use the [`influxdb3 delete database` command](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/database/), the [HTTP API](/influxdb3/enterprise/api/v3/), or [InfluxDB 3 Explorer](/influxdb3/explorer/) to delete a database from InfluxDB 3 Enterprise.

#### Deleting a database cannot be undone

Deleting a database is a destructive action. Once a database is deleted, data stored in that database cannot be recovered.

-   [Delete a database using the influxdb3 CLI](#delete-a-database-using-the-influxdb3-cli)
-   [Delete a database using the HTTP API](#delete-a-database-using-the-http-api)
-   [Delete a database using InfluxDB 3 Explorer](#delete-a-database-using-influxdb-3-explorer)
-   [Delete data only (preserve schema and resources)](#delete-data-only-preserve-schema-and-resources)

## Delete a database using the influxdb3 CLI

Provide the following:

-   Name of the database to delete
-   -   InfluxDB 3 Enterprise [admin token](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/tokens/admin)

```sh
influxdb3 delete database DATABASE_NAME
```

Replace the following:

-   `DATABASE_NAME`: the name of the database to delete

Enter `yes` to confirm that you want to delete the database.

## Delete a database using the HTTP API

To delete a database using the HTTP API, send a `DELETE` request to the `/api/v3/configure/database` endpoint:

DELETE localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/database

Include the following in your request:

-   **Query parameters**:
    -   `db`: Database name to delete
-   **Headers**:
    -   `Authorization: Bearer` with your [admin token](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/tokens/)

```bash
curl --request DELETE "localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/database?db=DATABASE_NAME" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer AUTH_TOKEN"
```

Replace the following:

-   `DATABASE_NAME`: the name of the database to delete
-   `AUTH_TOKEN`: your [admin token](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/tokens/)

### Response

A successful deletion returns HTTP status `200` with no content body.

## Delete a database using InfluxDB 3 Explorer

You can also delete databases using the [InfluxDB 3 Explorer](/influxdb3/explorer/) web interface:

1. If you haven’t already, see how to [get started with Explorer and connect to your InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server](/influxdb3/explorer/get-started/).
2. In Explorer, click **Databases** in the left navigation.
3. Find the database you want to delete in the list.
4. Click the **Delete** icon (trash can) next to the database name.
5. In the confirmation dialog, type the database name to confirm.
6. Click **Delete Database**.

This action cannot be undone. All data in the database will be permanently deleted.

For more information, see [Manage databases with InfluxDB 3 Explorer](/influxdb3/explorer/manage-databases/).

## Delete data only (preserve schema and resources)

InfluxDB 3 Enterprise supports deleting only the data in a database while preserving the database schema and associated resources. This is useful when you want to clear old data and re-write new data to the same structure without recreating resources.

### What is preserved

When using the data-only deletion option, the following are preserved:

-   **Database schema**: Tables and column definitions
-   **Authentication tokens**: Database-scoped access tokens
-   **Processing engine configurations**: Triggers and plugin configurations
-   **Caches**: Last value caches (LVC) and distinct value caches (DVC)

### Delete data only using the CLI

Use the [`--data-only`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/database/#options) flag to delete data while preserving the database schema and resources–for example:

```sh
influxdb3 delete database --data-only DATABASE_NAME
```

Replace `DATABASE_NAME` with the name of your database.

#### Delete data and remove tables

To delete data and remove table schemas while preserving database-level resources (tokens, triggers, configurations), combine `--data-only` with [`--remove-tables`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/database/#options):

```sh
influxdb3 delete database --data-only --remove-tables DATABASE_NAME
```

This preserves:

-   Authentication tokens
-   Processing engine triggers and configurations

But removes:

-   All data
-   Table schemas
-   Table-level caches (LVC and DVC)

### Delete data only using the HTTP API

To delete only data using the HTTP API, include the `data_only=true` query parameter:

```bash
curl --request DELETE "localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/database?db=DATABASE_NAME&data_only=true" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer AUTH_TOKEN"
```

Replace the following:

-   `DATABASE_NAME`: the name of the database
-   `AUTH_TOKEN`: your [admin token](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/tokens/)

#### Delete data and remove tables

To also remove table schemas, add the `remove_tables=true` parameter:

```bash
curl --request DELETE "localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/database?db=DATABASE_NAME&data_only=true&remove_tables=true" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer AUTH_TOKEN"
```

#### Related

-   [influxdb3 delete database](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/database/)
-   [Delete database API](/influxdb3/enterprise/api/database/#operation/DeleteConfigureDatabase)
-   [Manage databases with InfluxDB 3 Explorer](/influxdb3/explorer/manage-databases/)