---
acl_categories:
- '@keyspace'
- '@write'
- '@slow'
arguments:
- display_text: key
  key_spec_index: 0
  multiple: true
  name: key
  type: key
arity: -2
categories:
- docs
- develop
- stack
- oss
- rs
- rc
- oss
- kubernetes
- clients
command_flags:
- write
complexity: O(N) where N is the number of keys that will be removed. When a key to
  remove holds a value other than a string, the individual complexity for this key
  is O(M) where M is the number of elements in the list, set, sorted set or hash.
  Removing a single key that holds a string value is O(1).
description: Deletes one or more keys.
group: generic
hidden: false
hints:
- request_policy:multi_shard
- response_policy:agg_sum
key_specs:
- RM: true
  begin_search:
    spec:
      index: 1
    type: index
  delete: true
  find_keys:
    spec:
      keystep: 1
      lastkey: -1
      limit: 0
    type: range
linkTitle: DEL
railroad_diagram: /images/railroad/del.svg
since: 1.0.0
summary: Deletes one or more keys.
syntax_fmt: DEL key [key ...]
title: DEL
---
{{< note >}}
This command's behavior varies in clustered Redis environments. See the [multi-key operations]({{< relref "/develop/using-commands/multi-key-operations" >}}) page for more information.
{{< /note >}}


Removes the specified keys.
A key is ignored if it does not exist.

## Examples

{{< clients-example set="cmds_generic" step="del" description="Foundational: Delete one or more keys using DEL (ignores non-existent keys, returns count of deleted keys)" difficulty="beginner" >}}
> SET key1 "Hello"
"OK"
> SET key2 "World"
"OK"
> DEL key1 key2 key3
(integer) 2
{{< /clients-example >}}

Give these commands a try in the interactive console:

{{% redis-cli %}}
SET key1 "Hello"
SET key2 "World"
DEL key1 key2 key3
{{% /redis-cli %}}

## Redis Software and Redis Cloud compatibility

| Redis<br />Software | Redis<br />Cloud | <span style="min-width: 9em; display: table-cell">Notes</span> |
|:----------------------|:-----------------|:------|
| <span title="Supported">&#x2705; Standard</span><br /><span title="Supported"><nobr>&#x2705; Active-Active</nobr></span> | <span title="Supported">&#x2705; Standard</span><br /><span title="Supported"><nobr>&#x2705; Active-Active</nobr></span> |  |

## Return information

{{< multitabs id="del-return-info" 
    tab1="RESP2" 
    tab2="RESP3" >}}

[Integer reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#integers): the number of keys that were removed.

-tab-sep-

[Integer reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#integers): the number of keys that were removed.

{{< /multitabs >}}