# EXPIRE

> Set a key's TTL in seconds.

Use `EXPIRE` to give a key a lifetime in seconds, after which the key is deleted automatically.

Whether the expiration survives later writes depends on the command: replacing the value with [`SET`](/redis/commands/string/set) clears it, while commands that modify a value in place, such as [`INCR`](/redis/commands/string/incr), [`LPUSH`](/redis/commands/list/lpush) or [`HSET`](/redis/commands/hash/hset), leave it untouched. A negative lifetime deletes the key immediately.

The optional condition decides when the new expiration is applied: `NX` only when the key currently has none, `XX` only when it already has one, `GT` only when the new expiration is later than the current one, and `LT` only when it is earlier. Since a key without an expiration counts as living forever, `GT` never adds one and `LT` always does. The reply is `1` when the expiration was set and `0` when the key does not exist or the condition was not met.

Read the remaining lifetime with [`TTL`](/redis/commands/generic/ttl) and remove it again with [`PERSIST`](/redis/commands/generic/persist).

## Syntax

```redis
EXPIRE <key> <seconds> [NX | XX | GT | LT]
```

## Arguments

| Argument | Required | Repeatable | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `<key>` | Yes | No | Redis key targeted by the command. |
| `<seconds>` | Yes | No | Lifetime in seconds. |
| `(NX \| XX \| GT \| LT)` | No | No | Choose one form: `NX` (only when the key has no expiration); `XX` (only when the key already has one); `GT` (only when the new expiration is later than the current one); `LT` (only when it is earlier). |

## Important points

- `NX` cannot be combined with `XX`, `GT`, or `LT`, and `GT` and `LT` cannot be used together.
- A key with no expiration counts as an infinite one, so `GT` never sets an expiration on such a key and `LT` always does.

## Response

The reply reports the result of the operation. Error replies have the same shape in RESP2 and RESP3 and are surfaced as exceptions by the SDKs below.

| Protocol | Reply |
| --- | --- |
| RESP2 | Integer: `1` if the timeout was set, `0` otherwise |
| RESP3 | Integer: `1` if the timeout was set, `0` otherwise |

<Note>
  Client libraries often decode bulk strings, maps, sets, and numeric strings into language-native values. The table describes the Redis wire reply.
</Note>

## Examples

TCP examples use the TLS `REDIS_URL` from the Upstash console. REST examples use `UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL` and `UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN`.

<AccordionGroup>

<Accordion title="Redis CLI" icon="terminal">

```bash
EXPIRE my-key 1000
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="@upstash/redis" icon="node-js" iconType="brands">

```ts
import { Redis } from "@upstash/redis";

const redis = Redis.fromEnv();

await redis.set("mykey", "Hello");
await redis.expire("mykey", 10);
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="upstash_redis" icon="python" iconType="brands">

```python
from upstash_redis import Redis

redis = Redis.from_env()
result = redis.expire("my-key", 1000)
print(result)
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="ioredis" icon="node-js" iconType="brands">

```ts
import Redis from "ioredis";

const redis = new Redis(process.env.REDIS_URL!);
const result = await redis.expire("my-key", "1000");
console.log(result);
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="node-redis" icon="node-js" iconType="brands">

```ts
import { createClient } from "redis";

const client = await createClient({ url: process.env.REDIS_URL })
  .on("error", console.error)
  .connect();
const result = await client.expire("my-key", 1000);
console.log(result);
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="redis-py" icon="python" iconType="brands">

```python
import os
import redis

client = redis.from_url(os.environ["REDIS_URL"])
result = client.expire("my-key", 1000)
print(result)
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="go-redis" icon="golang" iconType="brands">

```go
package main

import (
    "context"
    "fmt"
    "os"
    "time"

    "github.com/redis/go-redis/v9"
)

func main() {
    opts, err := redis.ParseURL(os.Getenv("REDIS_URL"))
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    client := redis.NewClient(opts)
    result, err := client.Expire(context.Background(), "my-key", 1000*time.Second).Result()
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    fmt.Println(result)
}
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="jedis" icon="java" iconType="brands">

```java
import java.net.URI;

import redis.clients.jedis.Jedis;

try (Jedis jedis = new Jedis(new URI(System.getenv("REDIS_URL")))) {
  Object result = jedis.expire("my-key", 1000);
  System.out.println(result);
}
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="redis-rs" icon="rust" iconType="brands">

```rust
use redis::TypedCommands;

fn main() -> redis::RedisResult<()> {
    let url = std::env::var("REDIS_URL").expect("REDIS_URL is not set");
    let client = redis::Client::open(url)?;
    let mut connection = client.get_connection()?;

    let result = connection.expire("my-key", 1000)?;
    println!("{result:?}");
    Ok(())
}
```

</Accordion>

</AccordionGroup>