13 Most Common MongoDB Commands

As you get started with MongoDB, it will take some time to learn how to query, so we’ve compiled a list of the most common MongoDB commands and how they’re written.

As an alternative, we also show you how to run them – without typing a single line of code – using Studio 3T as a GUI. Even better than a cheat sheet!

1. MongoDB create database

There’s actually no command in the MongoDB shell to do so – MongoDB automatically creates a database when you store data in a collection or document.

In Studio 3T:

In the Connection Tree, right-click the target server. Choose Add Database.

Right-click on the target server and choose Add Database to create a database in MongoDB

Name your database – and note the info message.

Name your newly created MongoDB database

Click OK. Make sure to add a collection!

2. MongoDB drop database

Command:

db.dropDatabase()

//drops the current database you're in

In Studio 3T:

Let’s drop (or delete) the newly created database, manatee.

Right-click the target database. Choose Drop Database.

Right click on the target database and choose Drop database to delete the database from MongoDB

Click Drop Database.

3. MongoDB show databases

Command:

db.adminCommand( { listDatabases: 1, nameOnly: true} )

// lists database names only

In Studio 3T:

No clicks needed here. You can view all databases from the Connection Tree.

View the full list of databases on your MongoDB server in the Connection Tree, no need to type MongoDB commands

Skip the MongoDB commands, download Studio 3T, and be productive from day one.

4. MongoDB show collections

Command:

db.getCollectionNames()

In Studio 3T:

In the Connection Tree, click the target database.

Click the Collections folder. This opens up the list of collections within that database.

Click on the target database then the Collections folder to show all collections in a MongoDB database.

Simply double-click the collections to show data in MongoDB. Learn more about viewing collection data.

5. MongoDB create collection

Command:

db.createCollection("collectionName");

In Studio 3T:

Right-click the target database. Choose Add Collection.

Right click on a database and choose Add Collection to create a collection in MongoDB

Enter a collection name and configure the settings as needed under the Options, Storage Engine, Validator, and Collation tabs.

Enter a collection name and configure the settings for your new MongoDB collection in a GUI instead of learning complicated command syntax

Click Create.

Learn more about working with MongoDB collections in Studio 3T.

6. MongoDB clear collection

Command:

db.collection.deleteMany({})

In Studio 3T:

Right-click the target collection. Choose Clear Collection.

Click Clear Collection.

7. MongoDB drop collection

Command:

db.collection.drop()

In Studio 3T:

Right-click the target collection. Choose Drop Collection.

Right click on a target collection and choose Drop collection to remove a collection from a MongoDB database

Click Drop Collection.

8. MongoDB insert document

Command:

db.collection.insertOne({ field1: “value1”, field2: “value2” })

In Studio 3T:

While in Table View or Tree View, right-click any cell.

Choose Document > Insert Document. This opens the Insert JSON Document dialog.

Enter the key value pairs. There’s no need to create the _id field – MongoDB does this automatically.

Insert documents into a MongoDB collection using the Insert JSON document dialog.

Click Validate JSON to make sure the syntax is correct.

Click Add Document if adding one document, or Add & Continue if adding more documents.

9. MongoDB update document

Command:

db.collection.updateOne(<filter>, <update>, <options>)

In Studio 3T:

Studio 3T supports in-place editing, so all you need to do is double-click a value to edit it.

Double-click a value to edit data in MongoDB.

Here’s the complete article on how the MongoDB updateOne () method works in Studio 3T.

10. MongoDB delete document

Command:

db.collection.deleteOne()

In Studio 3T:

Right-click the target document. Choose Delete Document.

Choose the target document and click Delete Document to remove or delete a document from a MongoDB collection.

To delete all documents from a collection, follow the instructions on how to clear a collection.

11. MongoDB add field

Command:

{ $set: { <field1>: <value1>, ... } }

In Studio 3T:

Right-click anywhere in Tree View. Go to Field > Add Field/Value.

Enter a field name
Choose the field type
Define the field value
Choose where to add the field (Current document only, Documents matching query criteria, All documents in collection).

Configure the settings of your new field in your MongoDB documents as needed

Click Add Field/Value.

12. MongoDB rename field

Command:

db.collection.update({query}, {\$rename: { <field1> : <newName1> , <field2> : <newName2>}})

In Studio 3T:

Let’s rename the field from favorite-color to color.

Right-click any cell that contains the field you want to rename.
Go to Field > Rename Field.
Update the field name.
Choose where the field name should be updated (Current document only, Documents matching query criteria, All documents in collection).
Click Rename.

Rename a MongoDB field in your current document, all documents, or documents matching query criteria

13. MongoDB remove field

Command:

db.collection.update({}, {$unset: {<field1>:1}}, false, true);

In Studio 3T:

Let’s remove the color field entirely.

Right-click the cell of the field you want to delete.
Choose where you want to remove the field (Remove from current document only, Remove from all documents, Remove from documents matching current query).
Click OK.