IDBCursor.delete()

The delete() method of the IDBCursor interface returns an IDBRequest object, and, in a separate thread, deletes the record at the cursor's position, without changing the cursor's position. Once the record is deleted, the cursor's value is set to null.

Be aware that you can't call delete() (or IDBCursor.update()) on cursors obtained from IDBIndex.openKeyCursor(). For such needs, you have to use IDBIndex.openCursor() instead.

Note: This feature is available in Web Workers.

Syntax

myIDBCursor.delete();

Returns

An IDBRequest object on which subsequent events related to this operation are fired. The result attribute is set to undefined.

Exceptions

This method may raise a DOMException of one of the following types:

Exception Description
TransactionInactiveError This IDBCursor's transaction is inactive.
ReadOnlyError The transaction mode is read-only.
InvalidStateError The cursor was created using IDBIndex.openKeyCursor, is currently being iterated, or has iterated past its end.

Example

In this simple fragment we create a transaction, retrieve an object store, then use a cursor to iterate through all the records in the object store. If the albumTitle of the current cursor is "Grace under pressure", we delete that entire record using var request = cursor.delete();.

The cursor does not require us to select the data based on a key; we can just grab all of it. Also note that in each iteration of the loop, you can grab data from the current record under the cursor object using cursor.value.foo. For a complete working example, see our IDBCursor example (view example live.)

function deleteResult() {
  list.innerHTML = '';
  var transaction = db.transaction(['rushAlbumList'], 'readwrite');
  var objectStore = transaction.objectStore('rushAlbumList');

  objectStore.openCursor().onsuccess = function(event) {
    var cursor = event.target.result;
    if(cursor) {
      if(cursor.value.albumTitle === 'Grace under pressure') {
        var request = cursor.delete();
        request.onsuccess = function() {
          console.log('Deleted that mediocre album from 1984. Even Power windows is better.');
        };
      } else {
        var listItem = document.createElement('li');
        listItem.innerHTML = '<strong>' + cursor.value.albumTitle + '</strong>, ' + cursor.value.year;
        list.appendChild(listItem);
      }
      cursor.continue();
    } else {
      console.log('Entries displayed.');
    }
  };
};

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Indexed Database API 2.0
The definition of 'delete()' in that specification.
Recommendation
Indexed Database API Draft
The definition of 'delete()' in that specification.
Recommendation

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
deleteChrome Full support 24
Full support 24
No support 23 — 24
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit
Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 16
Full support 16
No support 10 — 16
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: moz
IE Partial support 10Opera Full support 15Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 22Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 8Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
Partial support
Partial support
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also