How to Delete an Index in Elasticsearch

Deleting an index in Elasticsearch is necessary when:

  • You need to remove outdated or unnecessary data
  • You're restructuring your data architecture
  • You want to free up storage space
  • You're cleaning up test or temporary indices
  • You need to comply with data retention policies

Steps to delete an index

  1. Verify the index exists:

    GET /_cat/indices?v
    
  2. Backup important data (optional but recommended):

    POST /_reindex
    {
      "source": {
        "index": "index_to_delete"
      },
      "dest": {
        "index": "backup_index"
      }
    }
    
  3. Delete the index:

    DELETE /index_to_delete
    
  4. Verify the index has been deleted:

    GET /_cat/indices?v
    

Additional Information and Best Practices

  • Always double-check the index name before deletion to avoid accidental data loss
  • Use index aliases to minimize downtime during index replacement operations
  • Consider using Index Lifecycle Management (ILM) for automated index deletion based on age or size
  • For large indices, deletion might take some time and resources; plan accordingly
  • Use the _all keyword with caution when deleting multiple indices

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I recover a deleted index in Elasticsearch?
A: No, index deletion is permanent. Always ensure you have a backup or snapshot before deleting an index if the data might be needed later.

Q: How do I delete multiple indices at once?
A: You can use wildcards or comma-separated lists in the DELETE command, e.g., DELETE /index1,index2,index3 or DELETE /test-*.

Q: Will deleting an index affect other indices or the cluster?
A: Deleting an index only affects that specific index and its data. However, it may temporarily impact cluster performance during the deletion process.

Q: Is there a way to prevent accidental index deletion?
A: Yes, you can use the index.blocks.read_only_allow_delete setting or implement cluster-level settings to prevent accidental deletions.

Q: How long does it take to delete a large index?
A: The time varies based on index size and cluster resources. While Elasticsearch handles this efficiently, very large indices may take several minutes or longer to delete completely.

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