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Delete Channel Message

Deletes a specific message from a Discord channel.

Common Properties​

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.
info

If the ContinueOnError property is true, no error is caught when the project is executed, even if a Catch node is used.

Inputs​

  • Client Id - The Discord bot client identifier from the Connect node (optional if Bot Token provided).
  • Channel Id - The ID of the Discord channel containing the message.
  • Message Id - The ID of the message to delete.

Options​

  • Bot Token - Discord bot token credential (optional if using Client ID from Connect node).

How It Works​

The Delete Channel Message node removes a specific message from a Discord channel. When executed, the node:

  1. Authenticates using either Client ID or direct bot token
  2. Validates the channel ID and message ID
  3. Sends a delete message request to Discord API
  4. Permanently removes the message

Requirements​

  • Active Discord bot session (Client ID) or bot token credentials
  • Valid channel ID and message ID
  • Appropriate permissions (see below)
  • The message must exist and not already be deleted

Error Handling​

The node will return specific errors in the following cases:

  • ErrInvalidArg - Client ID or bot token missing/invalid
  • ErrInvalidArg - Channel ID is empty
  • ErrInvalidArg - Message ID is empty
  • Discord API errors (message not found, missing permissions, etc.)

Permission Requirements​

To delete messages, the bot needs:

  • Manage Messages - To delete other users' messages
  • OR the message was sent by the bot itself (can always delete own messages)

Example: Delete Bot's Own Message​

Inputs:

  • Channel Id: "123456789012345678"
  • Message Id: "111111111111111111"

Result: The message is deleted (no special permission needed if it's the bot's message).

Example: Moderation - Delete Spam​

Flow:

1. Receive Message → message
2. Condition: message.Content contains "spam"
3. If True:
   - Delete Channel Message
     - Channel Id: {{message.ChannelID}}
     - Message Id: {{message.ID}}

Result: Automatically delete messages containing spam.

Example: Auto-Delete Commands​

Flow:

1. Receive Message → message
2. Condition: message.Content starts with "!"
3. Process command
4. Send response
5. Delete Channel Message (original command)
   - Channel Id: {{message.ChannelID}}
   - Message Id: {{message.ID}}

Result: Keep channels clean by removing command messages after processing.

Example: Timed Message Deletion​

Flow:

1. Send Channel Message → sent_message
2. Delay 10 seconds
3. Delete Channel Message
   - Message Id: {{sent_message.ID}}

Result: Send a temporary message that deletes itself after 10 seconds.

Use Cases​

  • Content moderation - Remove inappropriate or spam messages
  • Bot cleanup - Delete bot command messages
  • Temporary messages - Send messages that auto-delete
  • Error correction - Remove incorrectly sent messages
  • Privacy - Remove messages containing sensitive information
  • Channel maintenance - Clean up old or irrelevant messages

Message Deletion Rules​

  • Messages can only be deleted if they're less than 14 days old for bulk operations
  • Individual message deletion works on any message age
  • Deleted messages cannot be recovered
  • The bot must have appropriate permissions
  • Pinned messages can be deleted (if permissions allow)

Bot Permissions Required​

  • Manage Messages - To delete other users' messages
  • No special permission needed to delete the bot's own messages

Rate Limits​

Discord has rate limits for message deletion:

  • Deleting many messages quickly may hit rate limits
  • Consider using bulk delete for multiple messages
  • Add delays between deletions in loops

Bulk Deletion​

For deleting multiple messages:

  • Use Discord's bulk delete API (not available in this node)
  • Or loop through messages with delays
  • Bulk delete is faster but limited to messages less than 14 days old

Tips and Best Practices​

  • Verify permissions - Check bot has Manage Messages before attempting
  • Message age - Be aware of 14-day limit for some operations
  • User experience - Consider user impact before deleting messages
  • Logging - Log deleted messages for audit trails
  • Error handling - Handle cases where message is already deleted
  • Moderation - Use deletion sparingly and fairly
  • Alternative - Consider editing offensive content instead of deleting