> ## Documentation Index
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> Reference and syntax for the DROP INDEX command.

# DROP INDEX

Deletes an index. Dropping any index is a metadata-only operation; run [`VACUUM`](/reference-sql/commands/data-management/vacuum) on the table afterward to reclaim the storage the index occupied. To create indexes, see [`CREATE INDEX`](/reference-sql/commands/data-definition/create-index) and [`CREATE AGGREGATING INDEX`](/reference-sql/commands/data-definition/create-aggregating-index); for what each index does, see [Storage and indexing](/performance-and-observability/storage-and-indexing).

## Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"css-variables","dark":"css-variables"}}
-- Drop a regular index
DROP INDEX [IF EXISTS] <index_name>

-- Drop an aggregating index  
DROP AGGREGATING INDEX [IF EXISTS] <index_name>
```

## Parameters

| Parameter      | Description                          |
| :------------- | :----------------------------------- |
| `<index_name>` | The name of the index to be deleted. |

## Examples

### Drop a regular index

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"css-variables","dark":"css-variables"}}
DROP INDEX my_index;
```

### Drop an aggregating index

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"css-variables","dark":"css-variables"}}
DROP AGGREGATING INDEX my_agg_index;
```

<Note>
  A column referenced by a data skipping index cannot be dropped while that index exists; drop the index first. A table cannot be dropped while inverted or full-text indexes depend on it: drop the indexes first, or use `DROP TABLE ... CASCADE`.
</Note>

## See also

* [Storage and indexing](/performance-and-observability/storage-and-indexing) describes what each index does and how it is used.
* [`CREATE INDEX`](/reference-sql/commands/data-definition/create-index), [`CREATE AGGREGATING INDEX`](/reference-sql/commands/data-definition/create-aggregating-index), and [`VACUUM`](/reference-sql/commands/data-management/vacuum).