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# dataset.purgeItem()

**Added in:** `@mastra/core@1.65.0`

Permanently scrubs a dataset item's content from every historical version, deletion tombstone, and linked experiment result. Use [`deleteItem()`](https://mastra.ai/reference/datasets/deleteItem) instead when you only need to remove an item from the current dataset version.

## Usage example

```typescript
import { Mastra } from '@mastra/core'

const mastra = new Mastra({/* storage config */})

const dataset = await mastra.datasets.get({ id: 'dataset-id' })

await dataset.purgeItem({ itemId: 'item-id' })
```

## Parameters

**itemId** (`string`): ID of the item whose existing stored content is scrubbed.

## Behavior

Purging replaces the item's content fields in existing history rows and deletion tombstones with redacted values and adds a purge marker to its metadata. The same fields, along with tags and comments, are scrubbed from experiment results linked to this dataset item. Experiment-result writes submitted after the purge are stored with redacted content.

Purge serializes or conflicts with concurrent dataset item writers without guaranteeing which operation completes first. If a mutating `updateItem()` call loses the race, it re-reads the purge marker and rejects with `DATASET_ITEM_PURGED`. `deleteItem()` remains idempotent, and any deletion tombstone created during the race stays redacted.

Normal item mutations use Slowly Changing Dimension Type 2 (SCD-2) versioning. Permanent purge intentionally overrides historical immutability for erasure while preserving item identity and the dataset version timeline. It doesn't create a new dataset version. Version-pinned reads can still return the item's row skeleton, but its purged content is no longer available. Experiment counters and review status are also preserved.

MongoDB storage requires a replica set or sharded deployment with transaction support. If transactions aren't available, the operation fails before changing the item or its experiment results.

`externalId` remains unchanged because Mastra uses it as an identity key. Don't store sensitive data in `externalId`.

Purging is idempotent and can't be undone.

## Returns

**result** (`Promise<void>`): Resolves when the item and linked experiment result content have been scrubbed.

## Related

- [dataset.deleteItem()](https://mastra.ai/reference/datasets/deleteItem)
- [Client SDK datasets API](https://mastra.ai/reference/client-js/datasets)
- [Server routes](https://mastra.ai/reference/server/routes)