deletable

Deletable is an adjective meaning capable of being deleted; something that can be removed or erased. In everyday language it can describe documents, messages, or records that may be discarded. In technical contexts it refers to objects or data that a system is able to delete.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from the verb delete plus the suffix -able, itself derived from Latin and Old French roots related to erasing or removing. Deletable describes the potential action, while deletability is the corresponding noun.

Computing and data management: In file systems, applications, and databases, items may be marked as deletable or non-deletable based on permissions, ownership, or protective attributes. Non-deletable items may be protected by read-only attributes or immutable flags, and deletion attempts can be blocked or require elevated privileges. Many systems implement soft delete, where an item is flagged as deleted but retained for recovery, versus hard delete, which permanently removes it.

User interfaces and APIs: A deletable flag or property may be exposed in data models or APIs to govern deletion logic. User interfaces often disable or hide delete controls for non-deletable entities to prevent accidental removal, while preserving the ability to review or restore them under policy or governance rules.

Related terms: Deletability (the noun form) and synonyms such as erasable or removable. In data governance, deletion relates to retention policies, archiving, and lifecycle management to balance data usability with compliance.