[Yandex Cloud documentation](../../index.md) > [Yandex Cloud Registry](../index.md) > [Concepts](index.md) > Lifecycle policy # Lifecycle policy in Yandex Cloud Registry A _lifecycle policy_ consists of rules that manage storage or deletion of artifacts in a [registry](registry.md). Policies automate the cleanup of old or unused [artifact](artifacts/index.md) versions to save space and reduce storage costs. Rules are specified as a JSON [array of rule objects](#LifecycleRule) when [creating](../operations/lifecycle-policy/create.md) a lifecycle policy. Each policy rule includes a filter by `path_prefix`. It indicates which artifacts the rule applies to. **Examples** Prefix | Selection --- | --- `/` | All artifacts in the registry `/ubuntu` | Artifacts whose paths start with `/ubuntu` {% note warning %} Rules apply to packages. If you set a rule saying _Keep only the ten most recent versions_ with `path_prefix = /` for a registry containing two packages, e.g., `ubuntu` and `vault`, the rule will apply separately to each package. As a result, the ten latest versions will be retained in each package, rather than across all packages. The number of lifecycle policies and rules within them are subject to [quotas and limits](limits.md). {% endnote %} ## Types of rules {#rule-types} Lifecycle policy rules: * Apply only to artifacts matching the filter. * Determine which of these artifacts to retain or delete. ### KEEP {#keep-rule} Rules of the _KEEP_ type describe which artifacts the lifecycle policy should retain. These rules have higher priority than deletion rules (`HARD_DELETE` and `SOFT_DELETE`). The retention conditions include: * **Age**: Keeps artifacts younger than the specified age in days. * **Number of versions**: Keeps the specified number of the latest artifact versions, e.g., the five most recently created versions. ### HARD_DELETE {#hard-delete-rule} A rule of the _HARD_DELETE_ type permanently deletes artifacts matching the rule conditions. After the rule applies, the artifacts are permanently deleted, and you cannot restore them. The deletion conditions include: * **Age**: Deletes artifacts older than the specified age in days. * **Number of versions**: Deletes the oldest artifacts if they exceed the specified number (the oldest versions are deleted). * **Always**: Deletes all artifacts. ### SOFT_DELETE {#soft-delete-rule} A rule of the _SOFT_DELETE_ type marks artifacts for deletion but does not delete them immediately. The artifacts remain in the registry during the `cooldown period` specified in the rule. After this period ends, the artifacts are permanently deleted. {% note info %} Artifacts marked for soft deletion remain billable until the end of the cooldown period. {% endnote %} The `SOFT_DELETE` and `HARD_DELETE` rule conditions are the same. ## Rule filters {#rule-filters} Each rule includes filters indicating which artifacts the rule applies to: * **Path prefix** (`path_prefix`): Determines which artifacts the rule applies to based on their path. If you specify `/`, the rule will apply to all artifacts of all packages in the registry. You can specify one or more prefixes separated by commas, e.g., `/ubuntu,/vault`. This filter does not support regular expressions (`regexp`). * **Docker filters**: Additional filters for Docker images by tag status (with tags, no tags). * **Maven filters**: Additional filters for Java artifacts by version type (release versions, snapshots). Rules based on the number of versions or date apply to artifacts matching all the specified filters. ## Applying policies {#policy-execution} Lifecycle policies apply automatically according to a schedule. Rules are processed daily at the specified time. Policy changes are not immediate and take effect with the next processing cycle. Rules apply in the following priority order: 1. `KEEP` rules: Determine which artifacts to retain. 1. `HARD_DELETE` and `SOFT_DELETE` rules: Determine which artifacts to delete, ignoring those protected by the `KEEP` rules. ## Rule object (LifecycleRule) {#LifecycleRule} The `keep_by_age`, `keep_by_version`, and `delete` fields are mutually exclusive; you can only specify one action per rule. Field | Type | Description --- | --- | --- `path_prefix` | `string` | Path prefix indicating which artifacts the rule applies to. If it is not specified, the rule will apply to all artifacts. `keep_by_age` | [KeepByAgeLifecycleRule](#KeepByAgeLifecycleRule) | Keeping artifacts based on their age. `keep_by_version` | [KeepByVersionLifecycleRule](#KeepByVersionLifecycleRule) | Keeping artifacts based on the number of versions. `delete` | [DeleteLifecycleRule](#DeleteLifecycleRule) | Deleting artifacts. `docker_filters` | [DockerFilters](#DockerFilters) | Filters for rules applied to Docker images. `maven_filters` | [MavenFilters](#MavenFilters) | Filters for rules applied to Java artifacts. `version_regexp` | `string` | Regular expression to search for a package version or Docker image tag. ### KeepByAgeLifecycleRule object {#KeepByAgeLifecycleRule} Field | Type | Description --- | --- | --- `younger_than_days` | `integer` | Keep artifacts younger than the specified number of days. ### KeepByVersionLifecycleRule object {#KeepByVersionLifecycleRule} Field | Type | Description --- | --- | --- `keep_versions_count` | `integer` | Keep the specified number of artifact versions. ### DeleteLifecycleRule object {#DeleteLifecycleRule} The `older_than_days`, `version_condition`, and `always` fields are mutually exclusive; you can only specify one deletion condition. Field | Type | Description --- | --- | --- `type` | `string` | Deletion type: `cooldown_period_days` | `integer` | Waiting period before deletion, in days. `older_than_days` | `integer` | Delete artifacts older than the specified number of days. `version_condition` | [DeleteByVersionCondition](#dDeleteByVersionCondition) | Delete artifacts based on the number of versions. `always` | `boolean` | Delete all matching artifacts. ### DeleteByVersionCondition object {#DeleteByVersionCondition} Field | Type | Description --- | --- | --- `versions_count_greater_than` | `integer` | Delete artifacts if their versions exceed the specified number. ### DockerFilters object {#DockerFilters} Field | Type | Description --- | --- | --- `tag_status` | `string` | Filter Docker images by tag status: