Creating First Database and Collection in MongoDB

Creating First Database and Collection in MongoDB

1. Introduction to the Topic

In today’s fast-paced digital world, data plays a huge role in everything we do - from mobile apps to e-commerce to social media. Traditional databases like MySQL work well, but sometimes we need a more flexible and scalable option. That’s where MongoDB comes in.

MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in the form of documents, making it highly adaptable and ideal for modern applications. In this blog, I will walk you through how I created my first database and collection using MongoDB as a beginner.

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2. Explanation

Unlike traditional databases that use tables and rows, MongoDB uses collections and documents. Think of a collection like a folder, and a document like a file containing data in JSON format.

MongoDB does not require you to define a schema beforehand. You can just start adding data, and MongoDB will handle it flexibly. This makes it especially useful for projects that grow and change quickly.

A few key terms to know:

• Database: Holds collections.

• Collection: Holds documents (similar to a table).

• Document: Actual data (in JSON format).

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3. Procedure

Here are the steps I followed to create my first database and collection:

Step 1: Start MongoDB Server

Open the terminal and run:

mongod
                        

This starts the MongoDB server on your machine.

Step 2: Open the Mongo Shell

In a new terminal tab or window, type:

mongosh
                        

This connects you to the MongoDB shell where you can start writing commands.

Step 3: Create a Database

To create a new database (for example: myFirstDatabase), type:

use myFirstDatabase
                        

Note: MongoDB creates the database only when you add data to it.

Step 4: Create a Collection

To create a new collection named students, type:

db.createCollection("students")
                        

Step 5: Insert a Document

Now insert your first document into the collection:

db.students.insertOne({
  name: "Pruthviraj Sarjerao Patil",
  age: 20,
  course: "BCA",
  university: "Sri Balaji University"
})
                        

Step 6: View the Inserted Document

To see if the data was added, type:

db.students.find().pretty()
                        

This will display the document in a nicely formatted way.

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4. Future Scope

MongoDB is widely used in modern technologies such as:

• Web Development (with Node.js, Express.js, and React)

• Big Data and Analytics

• Internet of Things (IoT) Applications

• Real-time Applications like chat apps or notification systems

• Cloud-based Scalable Storage

As a BCA student, learning MongoDB opens doors to many career paths - especially in full-stack development, backend engineering, and data handling.

In future blogs, I plan to explore more MongoDB features like updating documents, deleting records, indexing, and aggregation pipelines.

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Pruthviraj Sarjerao Patil

University: Sri Balaji University, Pune

School: School of Computer Studies

Course: BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)

Interests: SQL, NoSQL, MongoDB, and Related Technologies

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