Shuge Unlimited

Jul 5, 2026 · Databases

Four States a Milvus Delete Passes Through – Uncovering the Most Complex Operation

A Milvus delete command looks simple, but the primary key is first stored in an L0 delta segment, then triggers compaction that merges the delete mark into L1/L2 segments, passes through four distinct segment states, and involves multiple seal strategies, rollback fields, and version‑specific behaviours, illustrating why deletion is the system's most intricate operation.