Learn MongoDB in 1 Hour 🍃

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to learning MongoDB in just one hour. MongoDB is a popular NoSQL database known for its flexibility and scalability. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, this guide will walk you through the essential steps, from installation to basic operations, ensuring you have a solid foundation to build upon.

Step 1: Install MongoDB

To get started, you need to install MongoDB on your system. Follow the instructions based on your operating system:

• Windows: MongoDB Windows Installation Guide
• MacOS: MongoDB MacOS Installation Guide
• Linux: MongoDB Linux Installation Guide

Practical Tips

• Ensure you have administrative rights for the installation.
• Verify compatibility with your operating system version.

Step 2: Install MongoDB Shell (mongosh)

The MongoDB Shell, known as mongosh, allows you to interact with your MongoDB instance. Follow the installation instructions for your OS:

• MongoDB Shell Installation Guide

Step 3: Set Environment Variable PATH

To make it easier to run MongoDB commands from any command line interface, set the PATH environment variable:

1. Open your system's environment variables settings.
2. Locate the PATH variable and edit it.
3. Add the path to your MongoDB installation bin directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\{version}\bin for Windows).

Practical Tips

• Restart your command line interface after making changes to the PATH variable to ensure they take effect.

Step 4: Using Mongosh

Once installed, open the MongoDB Shell by typing mongosh in your command line. You can now start executing MongoDB commands.

Common Commands

• To connect to a database:

  use yourDatabaseName
  

Step 5: Working with Databases

MongoDB allows you to create and manage multiple databases.

How to Create a Database

• Use the command:

  use newDatabaseName
  

Step 6: Insert Data

Adding data to your MongoDB database is straightforward.

Inserting a Document

• Use the following command:

  db.collectionName.insertOne({ key: "value" })
  

Step 7: Understand Data Types

MongoDB supports various data types, including:

• String
• Number
• Boolean
• Array
• Object
• Null

Practical Tips

• Always validate the data types you use to avoid errors later.

Step 8: Sorting and Limiting Results

You can sort and limit your query results to improve performance.

Example Command

• To sort and limit results, use:

  db.collectionName.find().sort({ field: 1 }).limit(10)
  

Step 9: Find Data

To retrieve documents from your database, use the find command.

Example Command

• Basic find command:

  db.collectionName.find({ key: "value" })
  

Step 10: Update Data

Updating documents in your database is critical for maintaining data accuracy.

Example Command

• To update a document:

  db.collectionName.updateOne({ key: "oldValue" }, { $set: { key: "newValue" } })
  

Step 11: Delete Data

If you need to remove documents, use the delete command.

Example Command

• To delete a document:

  db.collectionName.deleteOne({ key: "valueToDelete" })
  

Step 12: Comparison and Logical Operators

MongoDB supports different operators for querying.

Common Comparison Operators

• $eq: Equal
• $gt: Greater than
• $lt: Less than

Common Logical Operators

• $and
• $or

Example Command

• To use operators:

  db.collectionName.find({ $or: [ { key1: "value1" }, { key2: "value2" } ] })
  

Step 13: Working with Indexes

Indexes improve query performance.

Creating an Index

• Use the command:

  db.collectionName.createIndex({ key: 1 })
  

Step 14: Managing Collections

Understand how to create and manage collections in MongoDB.

Creating a Collection

• Use the command:

  db.createCollection("newCollectionName")
  

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned the key concepts of MongoDB, from installation to basic operations like inserting, querying, updating, and deleting data. As a next step, consider exploring more advanced topics such as aggregation, replication, and sharding to enhance your understanding and capability with MongoDB. Happy coding!