Delete items from a DynamoDB table
Prerequisite: Download Dynobase (free to try) in order to follow the steps below
To delete a DynamoDB item, identify its full primary key. In Dynobase, select the item, mark it for deletion, then use Save Changes to write the deletion. Selected rows remain visible as pending deletions until saved or discarded.
The demo shows an earlier interface. The written steps describe Dynobase 3.0.8.
1
Select the items
Open the correct profile, Region, and table. Use the query workspace to locate the items, then select the rows you intend to remove.
2
Mark for deletion
Right-click the selection and choose Delete. Check the highlighted pending rows; on macOS, Cmd+Backspace also works when focus is in the grid rather than an editor.
3
Save the deletion
Click Save Changes or press Cmd+S on macOS or Ctrl+S on Windows/Linux. Check for conflicts or failures, then refresh if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an item through a secondary index?
DeleteItem targets the base table and needs its full primary key, not just an index key. Query the index to obtain the table keys first; Dynobase uses the selected row's table keys for the deletion.
How do I remove a value from a list or set?
Use UpdateItem instead of DeleteItem, or edit the attribute in the item editor. A list element can be removed with a document path; a set member can be removed with the DELETE update action.
Does deleting an item require rebuilding indexes?
No manual reindex is needed. DynamoDB maintains secondary indexes when items change; global secondary index updates are asynchronous.
How do I delete an attribute?
Use an UpdateExpression such as
REMOVE #attribute with an expression-name alias, or remove the attribute in Dynobase's editor. Primary key attributes cannot be removed from an existing item.How do I delete multiple matching items?
First query or scan for their primary keys, then delete each item or batch up to 25 deletes per BatchWriteItem request. Retry UnprocessedItems; in Dynobase, select multiple rows and use the context menu, or use Truncate when you intentionally need to empty a table.
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