> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cyborg.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete Index

<Warning>This action is irreversible. Proceed with caution.</Warning>

Deletes the current index and all its associated data.

```python theme={null}
def delete_index(self,
                 *,
                 index_key: bytes = None,
                 user_id: bytes = None)
```

Deletes the current index and its associated data. This action is irreversible, so proceed with caution.

### Parameters

| Parameter   | Type    | Description                                                                                                                                                     |
| ----------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `index_key` | `bytes` | *(Optional, keyword-only)* Override the per-operation index key. See [Per-operation key override](#per-operation-key-override). Must be the **root** index KEK. |
| `user_id`   | `bytes` | *(Optional, keyword-only)* 16-byte RBAC user identifier.                                                                                                        |

<Warning>Deleting an index is an admin operation gated on the **root** index KEK. It rejects [RBAC user](./manage-users) contexts — a per-user key cannot delete the index.</Warning>

### Exceptions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="RuntimeError">
    * Throws if the index could not be deleted.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Example Usage

```python theme={null}
# Load index
index = client.load_index(
    index_name=index_name, 
    index_key=index_key
)

# Delete the index
index.delete_index()
```

### Per-operation key override

The call above reuses the key supplied at [`create_index()`](../client/create-index) / [`load_index()`](../client/load-index). You may instead pass `index_key=` (the root index KEK) to override the per-operation key, which is required in stateless/service deployments that reload the index per request:

```python theme={null}
index.delete_index(index_key=index_key)
```