IDBFactory.deleteDatabase()

The deleteDatabase() method of the IDBFactory interface requests the deletion of a database. The method returns an IDBOpenDBRequest object immediately, and performs the deletion operation asynchronously.

If the database is successfully deleted, then a success event is fired on the request object returned from this method, with its result set to undefined. If an error occurs while the database is being deleted, then an error event is fired on the request object that is returned from this method.

When deleteDatabase() is called, any other open connections to this particular database will get a versionchange event.

Note: This feature is available in Web Workers.

Syntax

For the current standard:

var request = indexedDB.deleteDatabase(name);

For the experimental version with options (see below):

var request = indexedDB.deleteDatabase(name, options);

Parameters

name
The name of the database you want to delete. Note that attempting to delete a database that doesn't exist does not throw an exception, in contrast to IDBDatabase.deleteObjectStore(), which does throw an exception if the named object store does not exist.
options Non-standard
In Gecko, since version 26, you can include a non-standard optional storage parameter that specifies whether you want to delete a permanent (the default value) IndexedDB, or an indexedDB in temporary storage (aka shared pool.)

Return value

A IDBOpenDBRequest on which subsequent events related to this request are fired.

Example

var DBDeleteRequest = window.indexedDB.deleteDatabase("toDoList");
DBDeleteRequest.onerror = function(event) {
  console.log("Error deleting database.");
};
 
DBDeleteRequest.onsuccess = function(event) {
  console.log("Database deleted successfully");
    
  console.log(event.result); // should be undefined
};

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Edge Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 23webkit
24 (unprefixed)
(Yes) 10 moz
16.0 (16.0)
10, partial 15 7.1
Available in workers (Yes) (Yes) 37.0 (37.0) ? (Yes) ?
Indexed Database 2.0 58 ? ? ? 45 ?
Feature Android Webview Chrome for Android Edge Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) 22.0 (22.0) 1.0.1 10 22 8
Available in workers (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) 37.0 (37.0) (Yes) ? (Yes) ?
Indexed Database 2.0 58 58 ? ? ? ? 45 ?

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: jpmedley,