---
title: Manage databases with InfluxDB 3 Explorer
description: Use InfluxDB 3 Explorer to manage databases in an InfluxDB 3 instance.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/explorer/manage-databases/
estimated_tokens: 592
product: InfluxDB 3 Explorer
version: explorer
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/explorer/manage-databases/
date: '2026-09-30T22:41:12-05:00'
lastmod: '2026-09-30T22:41:12-05:00'
---

> [!Important]
> #### How you install Explorer depends on your InfluxDB 3 server
>
> Starting with InfluxDB 3 Enterprise v3.11, Explorer is included with
> the server and runs as WebAssembly (WASM)–there’s no separate
> container to install. Docker is required for InfluxDB 3 Core and
> Enterprise earlier than v3.11, and remains an option for later
> Enterprise releases. See[Install Explorer](/influxdb3/explorer/install/) to find the
> instructions for your server.

InfluxDB 3 Explorer lets you manage databases in your InfluxDB 3 Core instance
or InfluxDB 3 Enterprise cluster.

> [!Important]
> Using InfluxDB 3 Explorer to manage a database in InfluxDB 3 requires that
> the token used in the InfluxDB 3 server configuration is an[admin token](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/tokens/admin/).
> If you’re running the[Docker container](/influxdb3/explorer/install/docker/), Explorer must also
> be running in[admin mode](/influxdb3/explorer/install/docker/#choose-operational-mode).

To manage databases, navigate to **Manage Databases** in Explorer.
This page provides a list of databases in the connected InfluxDB 3 server that
contains the database name, retention period, and number of tables
(which includes system tables).

## Create a database

1. On the **Manage Databases** page, click **+ Create New**.

2. Provide a **Database name**.*For information about naming restrictions, see[InfluxDB 3 naming restrictions](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/databases/create/#database-naming-restrictions).*

3. *(Optional)* Specify a **Retention Period** for the database.
   This determines how long InfluxDB retains data (based on timestamp) in the
   database before expiring and removing the data. If no retention period is
   specified, InfluxDB does not expire data in the database.

   Set the following:

   * **Retention Period**: The number of time units to retain data.
   * **Unit**: The unit of time to use in the retention period definition.

4. Click **✓ Create Database**.

## Delete a database

1. On the **Manage Databases** page, click .
2. Confirm that you want to delete the database.

> [!Caution]
> Deleting a database is a destructive action and cannot be undone.

#### Related

* [Manage databases in InfluxDB 3 Core](/influxdb3/core/admin/databases/)
* [Manage databases in InfluxDB 3 Enterprise](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/databases/)