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

# Deletions

Deletion removes a track from a tape on-chain and frees its capacity for reuse. There is no soft-delete state or trash bin: a delete is a real on-chain operation, proven against the tape's commitment with a Merkle proof ([how tracks work](/protocol/architecture/tracks)).

## The delete command

Deletes a single track by address. Deleting needs the tape's authority or its delegate; `--tape` targets a tape other than the active one.

```bash theme={null}
tape delete 7trKAddressExampleBase58Value11111111111111
```

```text Output theme={null}
deleted track:    7trKAddressExampleBase58Value11111111111111
from tape:        3fTapeAddressExampleBase58Value111111111111
```

## Deleting named objects

`tape object rm` deletes by name instead of address. See [objects](/tools/cli/commands/objects).

## What deletion cannot do

Deleting a track removes the data from storage and serving, but it does not shorten history: the write remains part of the chain's record. Deleting a track frees its capacity on the tape, but the reservation still runs to its expiry.