{"id":"bitcask-tombstone-is-empty-string","text":"Deletion is represented by writing a record with an empty-string value; both `_scan_data_file` (checks `val_size == 0`) and `get` (checks `value == \"\"`) use this convention.","truth_value":"IN","source":"entries/2026/05/28/hash-index-storage-bitcask.md","source_url":"","source_hash":"","justifications":[],"dependents":[],"metadata":{"example":"TOMBSTONE = b\"__BITCASK_TOMBSTONE__\"\ndef delete(self, key):\n    self._write_record(key, TOMBSTONE)"},"explanation":{"steps":[{"node":"bitcask-tombstone-is-empty-string","truth_value":"IN","reason":"premise"}]}}