Update topic prop

docs-data/property-overrides.json

@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@
       "config_scope": "cluster"
     },
     "delete.retention.ms": {
-      "description": "The retention time for tombstone records in a compacted topic. Redpanda removes tombstone records after the retention limit is exceeded.\n\nIf you have enabled Tiered Storage and set <<redpandaremoteread,`redpanda.remote.read`>> or <<redpandaremotewrite,`redpanda.remote.write`>> for the topic, you cannot enable tombstone removal.\n\nIf both `delete.retention.ms` and the cluster property config_ref:tombstone_retention_ms,true,properties/cluster-properties[] are set, `delete.retention.ms` overrides the cluster level tombstone retention for an individual topic.",
+      "description": "The retention time for tombstone records in a compacted topic. Redpanda removes tombstone records after the retention limit is exceeded.\n\nIf you have enabled Tiered Storage and set <<redpandaremoteread,`redpanda.remote.read`>> or <<redpandaremotewrite,`redpanda.remote.write`>> for the topic, you cannot enable tombstone removal.\n\nIf both `delete.retention.ms` and the cluster property config_ref:tombstone_retention_ms,true,properties/cluster-properties[] are set, `delete.retention.ms` overrides the cluster level tombstone retention for an individual topic.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the milliseconds to retain tombstone records before removal.\n* 0: Tombstone records are immediately eligible for removal.\n* Negative value: Disables tombstone removal entirely for this topic.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#tombstone_retention_ms[`tombstone_retention_ms`]",
         "xref:manage:cluster-maintenance/compaction-settings.adoc#tombstone-record-removal[Tombstone record removal]"
@@ -955,15 +955,15 @@
       "config_scope": "cluster"
     },
     "initial.retention.local.target.bytes": {
-      "description": "A size-based initial retention limit for Tiered Storage that determines how much data in local storage is transferred to a partition replica when a cluster is resized. If `null` (default), all locally retained data is transferred.",
+      "description": "A size-based initial retention limit for Tiered Storage that determines how much data in local storage is transferred to a partition replica when a cluster is resized. If `null` (default), all locally retained data is transferred.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum bytes of local data to transfer during cluster resize.\n* 0: No local data is transferred during cluster resize.\n* Negative value: All locally retained data is transferred (default behavior).",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#initial_retention_local_target_bytes[`initial_retention_local_target_bytes`]",
         "xref:manage:tiered-storage.adoc#fast-commission-and-decommission[Fast commission and decommission through Tiered Storage]"
       ],
       "config_scope": "topic"
     },
     "initial.retention.local.target.ms": {
-      "description": "A time-based initial retention limit for Tiered Storage that determines how much data in local storage is transferred to a partition replica when a cluster is resized. If `null` (default), all locally retained data is transferred.",
+      "description": "A time-based initial retention limit for Tiered Storage that determines how much data in local storage is transferred to a partition replica when a cluster is resized. If `null` (default), all locally retained data is transferred.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum age (milliseconds) of local data to transfer during cluster resize.\n* 0: No local data is transferred during cluster resize.\n* Negative value: All locally retained data is transferred (default behavior).",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#initial_retention_local_target_ms[`initial_retention_local_target_ms`]",
         "xref:manage:tiered-storage.adoc#fast-commission-and-decommission[Fast commission and decommission through Tiered Storage]"
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@
       "config_scope": "cluster"
     },
     "min.cleanable.dirty.ratio": {
-      "description": "The minimum ratio between the number of bytes in dirty segments and the total number of bytes in closed segments that must be reached before a partition's log is eligible for compaction in a compact topic.",
+      "description": "The minimum ratio between dirty and total bytes in closed segments before a partition's log is eligible for compaction in a compact topic.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the minimum dirty ratio (0.0 to 1.0) required before compaction.\n* 0: Compaction is always eligible regardless of dirty ratio.\n* Negative value: This property is not considered when deciding if a log is eligible for compaction.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#min_cleanable_dirty_ratio[`min_cleanable_dirty_ratio`]"
       ],
@@ -1688,7 +1688,7 @@
       "config_scope": "topic"
     },
     "retention.bytes": {
-      "description": "A size-based retention limit that configures the maximum size that a topic partition can grow before becoming eligible for cleanup.\n\nIf `retention.bytes` is set to a positive value, it overrides the cluster property xref:cluster-properties.adoc#retention_bytes[`retention_bytes`] for the topic, and the total retained size for the topic is `retention.bytes` multiplied by the number of partitions for the topic.\n\nWhen both size-based (`retention.bytes`) and time-based (`retention.ms`) retention limits are set, cleanup occurs when either limit is reached.",
+      "description": "A size-based retention limit that configures the maximum size that a topic partition can grow before becoming eligible for cleanup.\n\nIf `retention.bytes` is set to a positive value, it overrides the cluster property xref:cluster-properties.adoc#retention_bytes[`retention_bytes`] for the topic, and the total retained size for the topic is `retention.bytes` multiplied by the number of partitions for the topic.\n\nWhen both size-based (`retention.bytes`) and time-based (`retention.ms`) retention limits are set, cleanup occurs when either limit is reached.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum bytes per partition. When exceeded, oldest data becomes eligible for cleanup.\n* 0: Partitions are immediately eligible for cleanup.\n* Negative value: Disables size-based retention for this topic.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:cluster-properties.adoc#retention_bytes[`retention_bytes`]",
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#retention_bytes[`retention_bytes`]",
@@ -1697,15 +1697,15 @@
       "config_scope": "topic"
     },
     "retention.local.target.bytes": {
-      "description": "A size-based retention limit for Tiered Storage that configures the maximum size that a topic partition in local storage can grow before becoming eligible for cleanup. It applies per partition and is equivalent to <<retentionbytes, `retention.bytes`>> without Tiered Storage.",
+      "description": "A size-based retention limit for Tiered Storage that configures the maximum size that a topic partition in local storage can grow before becoming eligible for cleanup. It applies per partition and is equivalent to <<retentionbytes, `retention.bytes`>> without Tiered Storage.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum bytes per partition in local storage before cleanup.\n* 0: Data in local storage is immediately eligible for cleanup.\n* Negative value: Disables size-based local retention override for this topic.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#retention_local_target_bytes[`retention_local_target_bytes`]",
         "xref:manage:tiered-storage.adoc[Tiered Storage]"
       ],
       "config_scope": "topic"
     },
     "retention.local.target.ms": {
-      "description": "A time-based retention limit for Tiered Storage that sets the maximum duration that a log's segment file for a topic is retained in local storage before it's eligible for cleanup. This property is equivalent to <<retentionms, `retention.ms`>> without Tiered Storage.",
+      "description": "A time-based retention limit for Tiered Storage that sets the maximum duration that a log's segment file for a topic is retained in local storage before cleanup. It applies per partition and is equivalent to <<retentionms, `retention.ms`>> without Tiered Storage.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum milliseconds to retain data in local storage.\n* 0: Data in local storage is immediately eligible for cleanup.\n* Negative value: Disables time-based local retention override for this topic.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#retention_local_target_ms[`retention_local_target_ms`]",
         "xref:manage:tiered-storage.adoc[Tiered Storage]",
@@ -1714,7 +1714,7 @@
       "config_scope": "topic"
     },
     "retention.ms": {
-      "description": "A time-based retention limit that configures the maximum duration that a log's segment file for a topic is retained before it becomes eligible to be cleaned up. To consume all data, a consumer of the topic must read from a segment before its `retention.ms` elapses, otherwise the segment may be compacted and/or deleted. If a non-positive value, no per-topic limit is applied.\n\nIf `retention.ms` is set to a positive value, it overrides the cluster property xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_retention_ms[`log_retention_ms`] for the topic.\n\nWhen both size-based (`retention.bytes`) and time-based (`retention.ms`) retention limits are set, the earliest occurring limit applies.",
+      "description": "A time-based retention limit that configures the maximum duration that a log's segment file for a topic is retained before it becomes eligible to be cleaned up. To consume all data, a consumer of the topic must read from a segment before its `retention.ms` elapses, otherwise the segment may be compacted and/or deleted.\n\nIf `retention.ms` is set to a positive value, it overrides the cluster property xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_retention_ms[`log_retention_ms`] for the topic.\n\nWhen both size-based (`retention.bytes`) and time-based (`retention.ms`) retention limits are set, the earliest occurring limit applies.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum milliseconds to retain data. After this duration, segments become eligible for cleanup.\n* 0: Data is immediately eligible for cleanup.\n* Negative value: Disables time-based retention for this topic.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#log_retention_ms[`log_retention_ms`]",
         "xref:manage:cluster-maintenance/disk-utilization.adoc#configure-message-retention[Configure message retention]"
@@ -1926,7 +1926,7 @@
       "config_scope": "topic"
     },
     "segment.ms": {
-      "description": "The maximum duration that a log segment of a topic is active (open for writes and not deletable). A periodic event, with `segment.ms` as its period, forcibly closes the active segment and transitions, or rolls, to a new active segment. The closed (inactive) segment is then eligible to be cleaned up according to cleanup and retention properties.\n\nIf set to a positive duration, `segment.ms` overrides the cluster property xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms[`log_segment_ms`]. Values are automatically clamped between the cluster bounds set by xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms_min[`log_segment_ms_min`] (default: 10 minutes) and xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms_max[`log_segment_ms_max`] (default: 1 year). If your configured value exceeds these bounds, Redpanda uses the bound value and logs a warning. Check current cluster bounds with `rpk cluster config get log_segment_ms_min log_segment_ms_max`.",
+      "description": "The maximum duration that a log segment of a topic is active (open for writes and not deletable). A periodic event, with `segment.ms` as its period, forcibly closes the active segment and transitions, or rolls, to a new active segment. The closed (inactive) segment is then eligible to be cleaned up according to cleanup and retention properties.\n\nIf set to a positive duration, `segment.ms` overrides the cluster property xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms[`log_segment_ms`]. Values are automatically clamped between the cluster bounds set by xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms_min[`log_segment_ms_min`] (default: 10 minutes) and xref:./cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms_max[`log_segment_ms_max`] (default: 1 year). If your configured value exceeds these bounds, Redpanda uses the bound value and logs a warning. Check current cluster bounds with `rpk cluster config get log_segment_ms_min log_segment_ms_max`.\n\nFor topics with compaction enabled, `max.compaction.lag.ms` also acts as a limit to `segment.ms`.\n\nThis property supports three states:\n\n* Positive value: Sets the maximum milliseconds a segment remains active before rolling to a new segment.\n* 0: Segments are immediately eligible for closure.\n* Negative value: Disables time-based segment rolling for this topic.",
       "related_topics": [
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms[`log_segment_ms`]",
         "xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#log_segment_ms_min[`log_segment_ms_min`]",

modules/develop/pages/config-topics.adoc

@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ The cleanup policy determines how to clean up the partition log files when they
 
 Unlike compacted topics, which keep only the most recent message for a given key, topics configured with a `delete` cleanup policy provide a running history of all changes for those topics.
 
+[NOTE]
+====
+include::shared:partial$tristate-behavior-change-25-3.adoc[]
+====
+
 include::develop:partial$topic-properties-warning.adoc[]
 
 For example, to change a topic's policy to `compact`, run:

modules/get-started/pages/release-notes/redpanda.adoc

@@ -144,6 +144,23 @@ The following configuration properties have new default values in v25.3:
 * xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#partition_autobalancing_mode[`partition_autobalancing_mode`]: Changed from `node_add` to `continuous` (Enterprise license required).
 * xref:reference:properties/cluster-properties.adoc#iceberg_throttle_backlog_size_ratio[`iceberg_throttle_backlog_size_ratio`]: Changed from `0.3` to `null`.
 
+[[behavior-changes]]
+=== Behavior changes
+
+The following topic properties now support enhanced tristate behavior:
+
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#segmentms[`segment.ms`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#retentionbytes[`retention.bytes`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#retentionms[`retention.ms`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#retentionlocaltargetbytes[`retention.local.target.bytes`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#retentionlocaltargetms[`retention.local.target.ms`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#initialretentionlocaltargetbytes[`initial.retention.local.target.bytes`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#initialretentionlocaltargetms[`initial.retention.local.target.ms`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#deleteretentionms[`delete.retention.ms`]
+* xref:reference:properties/topic-properties.adoc#mincleanabledirtyratio[`min.cleanable.dirty.ratio`]
+
+Previously, these properties treated zero and negative values the same way. Now they support three distinct states: positive values set specific limits, zero provides immediate eligibility for cleanup/compaction, and negative values disable the feature entirely. Review your topic configurations if you currently use zero values for these properties.
+
 === Deprecations
 
 The following configuration properties have been deprecated in v25.3 and will be removed in a future release:

modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-topic/rpk-topic-create.adoc

@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ NOTE: For the full list of properties, see xref:reference:topic-properties.adoc[
 
 endif::[]
 
+[IMPORTANT]
+====
+include::shared:partial$tristate-behavior-change-25-3.adoc[]
+====
+
 == Examples
 
 === Create a topic