# memory_delete

Remove a stored memory entry by exact (namespace, key). Use when a previously stored decision is invalidated or contains stale data. No native equivalent — Write to a file does not affect the .swarm/memory.db SQLite store.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `memory_delete`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/memory-delete

## Facts

- Tool: `memory_delete`
- Server: Claude Flow (`claude-flow`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow.md
- Install: `npx -y claude-flow`
- Homepage: https://github.com/ruvnet/claude-flow
- Risk category: Destructive (Critical risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Hidden

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "memory_delete",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why memory_delete is rated Critical

Although framed as 'invalidating' stale data, this tool permanently deletes records from a shared swarm memory database. In a multi-agent system, unauthorized or mistaken deletion of memory entries could cause cascading failures (lost decision context, corrupted agent coordination state) and cannot be undone. This is more severe than Write (which is reversible) and qualifies as Destructive.

From the tool's own definition: "The tool explicitly performs removal/deletion of data ('Remove a stored memory entry'), operates on a persistent database (.swarm/memory.db SQLite store), and is described as irreversible (deletion)."

## Use case

AI agents call memory_delete to permanently remove resources in Claude Flow, typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Hidden**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Claude Flow:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "memory_delete"
  ]
}
```

## Other tools on Claude Flow (495)

- `agent_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-terminate.md
- `agentdb_batch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-batch.md
- `agentdb_causal-edge-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-causal-edge-delete.md
- `agentdb_causal-node-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-causal-node-delete.md
- `agentdb_hierarchical-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-hierarchical-delete.md
- `agenticow_rollback` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agenticow-rollback.md
- `autopilot_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/autopilot-reset.md
- `config_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/config-reset.md
- `federation_wg_keyrotate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/federation-wg-keyrotate.md
- `hooks_codemod` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-codemod.md
- `hooks_intelligence-reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-intelligence-reset.md
- `hooks_worker-cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-worker-cancel.md
- `iot_device_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-device-remove.md
- `iot_firmware_rollout_rollback` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-firmware-rollout-rollback.md
- `iot_fleet_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-fleet-delete.md
- `iot_fleet_remove_device` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-fleet-remove-device.md
- `managed_agent_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/managed-agent-terminate.md
- `policy_revoke` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/policy-revoke.md
- `ruvector_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/ruvector-delete.md
- `session_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/session-delete.md
- `system_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/system-reset.md
- `task_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/task-cancel.md
- `teammate_cleanup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/teammate-cleanup.md
- `wasm_agent_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/wasm-agent-reset.md
- `wasm_gallery_remove_custom` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/wasm-gallery-remove-custom.md
- `workflow_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-cancel.md
- `workflow_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-delete.md
- `agent_pool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-pool.md
- `agent_spawn` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-spawn.md
- `agentdb_consolidate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-consolidate.md
- …and 465 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow