Command
curl -X GET 'http://localhost:9200/_cat/indices?v'Explanation
Returns a table view of all indices along with their status, health, document count, and storage size. Ideal for quick cluster overviews.
Common Use Cases
- •Viewing all existing indices
- •Checking index health and shard count
- •Identifying large indices for cleanup
Best Practices
- ✓Use pattern filters (e.g., logs-*) for better readability
- ✓Combine with `_cat/shards` to inspect shard distribution
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠Omitting the `?v` flag, which hides headers
- ⚠Not filtering by pattern, leading to large, unreadable outputs
Troubleshooting
Problem: Missing indices
Solution: Verify index creation or alias configuration.
Problem: Yellow health status
Solution: Check replica shard allocation and node availability.
Examples
List only logs-* indices
curl -X GET 'http://localhost:9200/_cat/indices/logs-*?v'