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

# Delete a Credential

> Remove a credential from the database entirely. Reserved for rare
cases like GDPR Article 17 erasure requests or credentials issued in error
before any use. **The audit trail for this credential is destroyed.** The
status list bit stays flipped — bit slots are not reused once allocated.

For normal lifecycle management, use `POST /:id/revoke` instead. Revoke
preserves the full audit trail.



## OpenAPI

````yaml DELETE /v1/credentials/{id}
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Beltic Credentials API
  version: 1.0.0
servers: []
security: []
paths:
  /v1/credentials/{id}:
    delete:
      tags:
        - Credentials
      summary: Hard-delete a credential
      description: >-
        Remove a credential from the database entirely. Reserved for rare

        cases like GDPR Article 17 erasure requests or credentials issued in
        error

        before any use. **The audit trail for this credential is destroyed.**
        The

        status list bit stays flipped — bit slots are not reused once allocated.


        For normal lifecycle management, use `POST /:id/revoke` instead. Revoke

        preserves the full audit trail.
      parameters:
        - schema:
            type: string
            example: cred_abc123
          required: true
          name: id
          in: path
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Credential deleted
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/DeleteCredentialResponse'
        '400':
          description: Validation error or malformed request
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse'
        '401':
          description: Authentication required
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse'
        '403':
          description: Forbidden — caller lacks required permission
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse'
        '404':
          description: Resource not found
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse'
        '409':
          description: Conflict (e.g., credential already revoked, idempotency clash)
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse'
        '500':
          description: Internal server error
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse'
      security:
        - ApiKeyAuth: []
components:
  schemas:
    DeleteCredentialResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        deleted:
          type: boolean
          enum:
            - true
      required:
        - deleted
    ApiErrorResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        error:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiError'
      required:
        - error
    ApiError:
      type: object
      properties:
        code:
          type: string
        message:
          type: string
        details:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiErrorDetail'
        request_id:
          type: string
      required:
        - code
        - message
    ApiErrorDetail:
      type: object
      properties:
        field:
          type: string
        issue:
          type: string
        hint:
          type: string
      required:
        - issue

````