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

# unlink

> Remove relations between resources

## Overview

The `unlink()` method removes a directional relation between two resources. This is useful for cleaning up outdated connections or correcting mistakes.

<Warning>
  Unlinking only removes the specified direction. If you created bidirectional links, you must unlink both directions separately.
</Warning>

## Method Signature

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python SDK theme={null}
  def unlink(from_uri: str, uri: str) -> None
  ```

  ```bash HTTP API theme={null}
  POST /api/v1/relations/unlink
  ```

  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  ov unlink <from_uri> <to_uri>
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Parameters

<ParamField path="from_uri" type="string" required>
  Source URI of the relation to remove
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="uri" type="string" required>
  Target URI of the relation to remove
</ParamField>

## Examples

### Remove Single Relation

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python SDK theme={null}
  from openviking import OpenViking

  client = OpenViking(path="./data")

  # Remove a relation
  client.unlink(
      from_uri="viking://resources/code/auth.py",
      uri="viking://resources/docs/old-auth.md"
  )
  ```

  ```bash HTTP API theme={null}
  curl -X POST http://localhost:1933/api/v1/relations/unlink \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "X-API-Key: your-key" \
    -d '{
      "from_uri": "viking://resources/code/auth.py",
      "to_uri": "viking://resources/docs/old-auth.md"
    }'
  ```

  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  ov unlink viking://resources/code/auth.py \
            viking://resources/docs/old-auth.md
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Clean Up Outdated Relations

```python theme={null}
# Get all relations
relations = client.relations("viking://resources/code/main.py")

# Remove outdated ones
for rel in relations:
    if "deprecated" in rel['to_uri']:
        client.unlink(
            from_uri=rel['from_uri'],
            uri=rel['to_uri']
        )
        print(f"Removed: {rel['to_uri']}")
```

### Remove All Relations for a Resource

```python theme={null}
# Before deleting a resource, clean up its relations
uri = "viking://resources/temp/example.md"

# Remove all outgoing relations
relations = client.relations(uri)
for rel in relations:
    client.unlink(from_uri=uri, uri=rel['to_uri'])

# Now safe to delete
client.rm(uri)
```

## Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "ok",
  "time": 0.002
}
```

## Error Responses

### Relation Not Found

If the relation doesn't exist, the operation succeeds silently (idempotent):

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "ok",
  "time": 0.001
}
```

## Use Cases

1. **Cleanup** - Remove outdated or incorrect relations
2. **Refactoring** - Update relations when resources move or change
3. **Maintenance** - Clean up relations before deleting resources
4. **Corrections** - Fix accidentally created relations

## Best Practices

<Tip>
  Always query relations with `relations()` before mass unlinking to avoid removing unexpected links.
</Tip>

```python theme={null}
# Good: Verify before removing
relations = client.relations(uri)
print(f"Found {len(relations)} relations")

# Review and selectively unlink
for rel in relations:
    if should_remove(rel):
        client.unlink(uri, rel['to_uri'])

# Avoid: Blind removal without checking
# client.unlink(uri, some_uri)  # What if this removes something important?
```

## Notes

* Unlink is **idempotent**: removing a non-existent relation succeeds
* Unlink only affects **one direction**: A → B unlink doesn't affect B → A
* Unlink does **not delete resources**: only removes the relation
* Resources can still be found via semantic search after unlinking

## Related Methods

* [link()](/api/filesystem/link) - Create relations between resources
* [relations()](/api/filesystem/relations) - Query existing relations
* [rm()](/api/filesystem/rm) - Delete resources (does not auto-unlink)