1. Use either `kubectl` or the Kubernetes API to delete the Deployment,
   depending on the Kubernetes version your cluster runs. {{<version-check>}}


You can delete objects using background cascading deletion using `kubectl`
or the Kubernetes API.

Kubernetes uses background cascading deletion by default, and does so
even if you run the following commands without the `--cascade` flag or the
`propagationPolicy` argument.

**Using kubectl**

Run the following command:

```shell
kubectl delete deployment nginx-deployment --cascade=background
```

**Using the Kubernetes API**

1. Start a local proxy session:

   ```shell
   kubectl proxy --port=8080
   ```

1. Use `curl` to trigger deletion:

   ```shell
   curl -X DELETE localhost:8080/apis/apps/v1/namespaces/default/deployments/nginx-deployment \
       -d '{"kind":"DeleteOptions","apiVersion":"v1","propagationPolicy":"Background"}' \
       -H "Content-Type: application/json"
   ```

   The output is similar to this:

   ```
   "kind": "Status",
   "apiVersion": "v1",
   ...
   "status": "Success",
   "details": {
       "name": "nginx-deployment",
       "group": "apps",
       "kind": "deployments",
       "uid": "cc9eefb9-2d49-4445-b1c1-d261c9396456"
   }
   ```


## Delete owner objects and orphan dependents {#set-orphan-deletion-policy}

By default, when you tell Kubernetes to delete an object, the
{{<glossary_tooltip text="controller" term_id="controller">}} also deletes
dependent objects. You can make Kubernetes *orphan* these dependents using
`kubectl` or the Kubernetes API, depending on the Kubernetes version your
cluster runs. {{<version-check>}}


**Using kubectl**

Run the following command:

```shell
kubectl delete deployment nginx-deployment --cascade=orphan
```

**Using the Kubernetes API**

1. Start a local proxy session:

   ```shell
   kubectl proxy --port=8080
   ```

1. Use `curl` to trigger deletion:

   ```shell
   curl -X DELETE localhost:8080/apis/apps/v1/namespaces/default/deployments/nginx-deployment \
       -d '{"kind":"DeleteOptions","apiVersion":"v1","propagationPolicy":"Orphan"}' \
       -H "Content-Type: application/json"
   ```

   The output contains `orphan` in the `finalizers` field, similar to this:

   ```
   "kind": "Deployment",
   "apiVersion": "apps/v1",
   "namespace": "default",
   "uid": "6f577034-42a0-479d-be21-78018c466f1f",
   "creationTimestamp": "2021-07-09T16:46:37Z",
   "deletionTimestamp": "2021-07-09T16:47:08Z",
   "deletionGracePeriodSeconds": 0,
   "finalizers": [
     "orphan"
   ],
   ...
   ```


You can check that the Pods managed by the Deployment are still running:

```shell
kubectl get pods -l app=nginx
```

## {{% heading "whatsnext" %}}

* Learn about [owners and dependents](/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/owners-dependents/) in Kubernetes.
* Learn about Kubernetes [finalizers](/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/finalizers/).
* Learn about [garbage collection](/docs/concepts/architecture/garbage-collection/).