del() with non-array arguments cause Redis (AWS Redis) to throw

[fmlukaszmatusik]

I've been struggling with using del() method with either

const array = ['key1', 'key2'];
del(...array);

or just

const key1 = 'key1';
const key2 = 'key2';
del(key1, key2);

What I've discovered is (probably) a bug or invalid typing (OverloadedCommand interface).

If I try to delete keys as above, Redis fails, throws an exception (without any specific message).

But If I do it like this

const array = ['key1', 'key2'];
del(array);

or

const key1 = 'key1';
const key2 = 'key2';
del([key1, key2]);

It works. Seems del() signature is invalid(?). You cannot spread arguments; it works only with an array of strings.

EDIT: del with array does not work too with AWS Redis: #2002 (comment)

---

• Redis version: AWS Redis 7.1
• Package version: 5.7.0
• Node.js version: 22.18.0

[PavelPashov]

Hey @fmlukaszmatusik, unfortunately I'm unable to reproduce the issue, can you please paste the full error message and stack trace you’re seeing.

The below example works fine for me:

await redis.set('key1', 'value1');
await redis.set('key2', 'value2');
await redis.set('key3', 'value3');
await redis.set('key4', 'value4');
await redis.set('key5', 'value5');

const keysBefore = await redis.keys('*');
console.log('keys before:', keysBefore);
// keys before: [ 'key3', 'key2', 'key1', 'key5', 'key4' ]

const array = ['key1', 'key2'];
await redis.del(...array);
const key3 = 'key3';
const key5 = 'key5';
await redis.del(key3, key5);

const keysAfter = await redis.keys('*');
console.log('keys after:', keysAfter);
// keys after: [ 'key4' ]

[fmlukaszmatusik]

@PavelPashov What I see is only

error.command.args.0
finishing:69e3d35f-7005-4bbe-9f5d-3bff783887c6
error.command.args.1
upload_status:218196551
error.command.name
del

Nothing more, unfortunately. What's more, issue does not occur on my local machine with local Redis (i.e. I'm running test in Jest) and it seems it may something to do with AWS Redis?

[fmlukaszmatusik]

@PavelPashov What's more - I've just discovered - del(array) does not work too wth AWS Redis. I need to remove key by key (with Promise.all or map).

We use Cluster in serverless mode (cluster-mode enabled): https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonElastiCache/latest/dg/Replication.Redis-RedisCluster.html

May this be the case?

[PavelPashov]

@fmlukaszmatusik This may be related to how Redis Cluster handles key slots. In Cluster mode, all keys in a multi-key command (like DEL) must fall into the same hash slot. If they don’t, you’ll get an error. To fix this, you can group the keys by slot using hash tags (e.g. finishing:{123}:69e3d35f-7005-4bbe-9f5d-3bff783887c6 and upload_status:{123}:218196551 will hash to the same slot). However, keep in mind that overusing hash tags can create hot spots and reduce even distribution across the cluster.