Data Types in MongoDB: Explained in Detail

Sienna Roberts 15 September 2023

Dive deep into the world of "Data Types in MongoDB" and gain a comprehensive understanding. Uncover the importance of data types within MongoDB, exploring the various MongoDB data types such as Date, ObjectId, Int32, and Type checking. This blog will also provide real-world examples of MongoDB data types in action, giving you a practical grasp of their usage.

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Data Types in MongoDB: Explained in Detail

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Data Types in MongoDB

MongoDB, as a leading NoSQL database, offers a rich and versatile set of data types beyond traditional relational databases. These MongoDB data types, including scalar types like Int32 and complex types like ObjectId, offer robust solutions to diverse data storage requirements.

According to a 2022 MongoDB Whitepaper, about 60 per cent of respondents reveal that digital transformation increased the complexity of data architecture. This statistic demonstrates the necessity of efficient programming. This blog will explain the various Data Types that MongoDB supports, and along with that, you will also learn how to implement them.

Table of Contents

1) Understanding What are Data Types in MongoDB

2) Exploring the different MongoDB Data Types

a) Date

b) ObjectId

c) Int32

d) Long

e) Decimal128

f) Timestamp

g) Type checking

3) Looking at some examples of MongoDB Data Types

4) Conclusion

Understanding What are Data Types in MongoDB

MongoDB, a NoSQL database, offers developers the flexibility to handle diverse data through its dynamic schema. Developers can harness the full potential of MongoDB by utilising its data types. Data types essentially define the kind of values that can be stored and manipulated within each field in a MongoDB collection.

Additionally, a comprehensive understanding of these data types is pivotal because they significantly influence the database's processing efficiency. The data types in MongoDB are divided into two major categories, namely Scalar and Complex.

Now, the Scalar data types include simple types like String, Integer, and Boolean, while Complex data types encompass Array, Object, and Null. MongoDB's wide range of data types offers impressive adaptability,

Exploring the different MongoDB Data Types

MongoDB includes a diverse array of data types divided into Scalar and Complex categories. The scalar types include String, Integer, and Boolean, which hold singular values. The complex types, including Array, Object, and Null, manage multiple or nested values.

The computing flexibility allows MongoDB to handle varied data requirements efficiently. Here are the seven key MongoDB Data Types explained as follows:

Date

The Date data type in MongoDB stores the current date and time in UNIX time format by default, providing a concise means of referencing a point in time. The default value is in milliseconds since the system’s epoch. The data type is especially beneficial when you need to carry out operations based on timestamps.

ObjectId

ObjectId is a 12-byte identifier typically used to uniquely identify documents within a collection. The structure of ObjectId includes the timestamp of creation, machine identifier, process identifier, and a random incremental value. ObjectId is the default value for the '_id' field if the '_id' field is not specified in a document.

Int32

Int32 is used to store a 32-bit integer value. This type is beneficial when dealing with numerical data that doesn't require the large storage space of a 64-bit integer. However, care must be taken to ensure that the values stored as Int32 do not exceed its range, or else a potential integer overflow might occur.

Long

In contrast to Int32, the Long data type is used for storing a 64-bit integer. Long is ideal for storing larger integers that exceed the Int32 limit.

Decimal128

Decimal128 is a 128-bit decimal-based floating-point type that accurately represents decimal fractions. It's perfect for financial calculations that demand high precision, such as monetary operations, where rounding errors may cause significant discrepancies.

Timestamp

The Timestamp data type in MongoDB is a special internal data type that records a moment in time. It's a 64-bit value where the first 32 bits are of the ‘time_t’ value, and the second 32 bits are the incrementing ordinal amount for operations within one given second. While similar to the ‘Date’ data type, it's primarily for internal MongoDB use.

Type checking

Type checking isn't a data type per se but a crucial function in MongoDB. It allows the user to verify the type of data stored in a field. Type checking functions become particularly handy during data validation or while performing certain operations that are type-specific.

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Looking at some examples of MongoDB Data Types

Developers find it useful to practice with examples to utilise the various MongoDB Data Types in their programming process. Here are a few examples explaining the usage of some of these types:

Example of ‘Date’ usage

This example will insert a new document into a collection named "orders". The document will contain the current date as the order date.

Code:

var MongoClient = require('mongodb').MongoClient;

var url = "mongodb://localhost:27017/";

MongoClient.connect(url, function(err, db) {

if (err) throw err;

var dbo = db.db("mydb");

var myobj = { product: "Book", order_date: new Date() };

dbo.collection("orders").insertOne(myobj, function(err, res) {

if (err) throw err;

console.log("1 document inserted");

db.close();

});

Example of Objectid type

This example will insert a new document into a collection named "orders". The document will have an '_id' field assigned a specific ObjectId.

Code:

var MongoClient = require('mongodb').MongoClient;

var ObjectId = require('mongodb').ObjectId;

var url = "mongodb://localhost:27017/";

MongoClient.connect(url, function(err, db) {

if (err) throw err;

var dbo = db.db("mydb");

var myobj = { _id: new ObjectId(), product: "Book" };

dbo.collection("orders").insertOne(myobj, function(err, res) {

if (err) throw err;

console.log("1 document inserted");

db.close();

});

Example of Int32 type

The below example code shows the insertion of a new document into a collection named "products". The document will have a 'price' field assigned an Int32 value.

Code:

var MongoClient = require('mongodb').MongoClient;

var Int32 = require('mongodb').Int32;

var url = "mongodb://localhost:27017/";

MongoClient.connect(url, function(err, db) {

if (err) throw err;

var dbo = db.db("mydb");

var myobj = { name: "Book", price: new Int32(50) };

dbo.collection("products").insertOne(myobj, function(err, res) {

if (err) throw err;

console.log("1 document inserted");

db.close();

});

Conclusion

MongoDB Data Types offer a powerful and versatile way to handle data, supporting everything from simple strings to complex objects. By understanding and applying these data types effectively, developers can harness the full potential of MongoDB, ensuring efficient, precise, and robust data management.

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