# Vacuum old history

> Trim a table’s old versions with vacuum_table to keep its transaction log small.

A table’s transaction log grows with what you write. `vacuum_table` deletes the history older than `retain_from_version`, by default every version but the latest, so time travel and restores reach back only that far. The rows stay as they are. It isn’t journaled and can’t be undone, so its `dry_run` is on by default: it lists the log files that would go.

## Trim old history with `vacuum_table`

`vacuum_table` deletes log history older than a version. You can no longer time travel to an earlier version, and the rows stay untouched. It’s a dry run unless you pass `dry_run: false`, and an agent runs it only when you ask.

**`vacuum_table`**

```json
{ "table": "film" }
```

Answer:

```json
{
  "table": "main.public.film",
  "retained_from": 8,
  "deleted": [
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000000.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000001.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000002.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000003.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000004.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000005.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000006.json",
    "store:transaction_log/main.public.film/00000000000000000007.json"
  ],
  "dry_run": true
}
```