> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://manual.docs.microstream.one/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://manual.docs.microstream.one/2.1/data-store/deleting-data.md).

# Deleting Data

{% hint style="warning" %}
**This is the manual for older MicroStream versions (Version < 5.0).**

**The new documentation (Version >= 5.0) is located at:**

[https://docs.microstream.one/](https://docs.microstream.one/manual)
{% endhint %}

Deleting data does not require performing explicit deleting actions like `DELETE FROM table WHERE...` . Instead you just need to clear any references to the object in your object-graph and store those changes. If a stored object is not reachable anymore its data will be deleted from the storage later. This behavior is comparable to Java's garbage collector.

```java
root.MyArrayList.remove(0);
storage.store(root.MyArrayList);
```

{% hint style="danger" %}
Deleted data is not erased immediately from the storage files
{% endhint %}

The erasing from the storage files is done by the [housekeeping ](/2.1/data-store/housekeeping.md)process.&#x20;


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://manual.docs.microstream.one/2.1/data-store/deleting-data.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.