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

# Delete category

> Delete a category by ID or slug. Requires a private API key. Cannot delete a category that has posts assigned to it.



## OpenAPI

````yaml https://api.marblecms.com/openapi.json delete /v1/categories/{identifier}
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Marble API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: A headless CMS API for managing and delivering content programmatically.
servers:
  - url: https://api.marblecms.com
    description: Production
security:
  - apiKey: []
paths:
  /v1/categories/{identifier}:
    delete:
      tags:
        - Categories
      summary: Delete category
      description: >-
        Delete a category by ID or slug. Requires a private API key. Cannot
        delete a category that has posts assigned to it.
      parameters:
        - schema:
            type: string
            example: technology
            description: Category ID or slug
          required: true
          description: Category ID or slug
          name: identifier
          in: path
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Category deleted successfully
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/DeleteResponse'
        '400':
          description: Category has posts assigned to it
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
        '403':
          description: Public API key used for write operation
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Forbidden'
        '404':
          description: Category not found
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/NotFound'
        '500':
          description: Server error
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ServerError'
components:
  schemas:
    DeleteResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
          example: cryitfjp5678mn09qrstuvwx
      required:
        - id
    Error:
      type: object
      properties:
        error:
          type: string
          example: Invalid query parameters
        details:
          type: array
          items:
            type: object
            properties:
              field:
                type: string
                example: limit
              message:
                type: string
                example: Expected number, received string
            required:
              - field
              - message
        message:
          type: string
          example: Validation failed
      required:
        - error
    Forbidden:
      type: object
      properties:
        error:
          type: string
          example: Forbidden
        message:
          type: string
          example: >-
            Write operations require a private API key (msk_...). Public keys
            are read-only.
      required:
        - error
        - message
    NotFound:
      type: object
      properties:
        error:
          type: string
          example: Post not found
        message:
          type: string
          example: The requested resource does not exist
      required:
        - error
        - message
    ServerError:
      type: object
      properties:
        error:
          type: string
          example: Internal server error
        message:
          type: string
          example: Failed to fetch resource
      required:
        - error
  securitySchemes:
    apiKey:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: Authorization
      description: Your Marble API key

````