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MongoDB - Update Document

MongoDB's update() and save() methods are used to update documents in a collection. The update() method updates the values in the existing document, while the save() method replaces the existing document with the document passed in the save() method.

MongoDB update() Method​

The update() method updates the values in the existing document.

Syntax​

The basic syntax of the update() method is as follows:

db.COLLECTION_NAME.update(SELECTION_CRITERIA, UPDATED_DATA)

Example​

Consider the mycol collection has the following data:

{ "_id" : ObjectId(5983548781331adf45ec5), "title":"MongoDB Overview"}
{ "_id" : ObjectId(5983548781331adf45ec6), "title":"NoSQL Overview"}
{ "_id" : ObjectId(5983548781331adf45ec7), "title":"Tutorials Point Overview"}

The following example sets the new title 'New MongoDB Tutorial' for the documents whose title is 'MongoDB Overview'.

db.mycol.update({'title':'MongoDB Overview'}, {$set:{'title':'New MongoDB Tutorial'}})
WriteResult({ "nMatched" : 1, "nUpserted" : 0, "nModified" : 1 })
db.mycol.find()
{ "_id" : ObjectId(5983548781331adf45ec5), "title":"New MongoDB Tutorial"}
{ "_id" : ObjectId(5983548781331adf45ec6), "title":"NoSQL Overview"}
{ "_id" : ObjectId(5983548781331adf45ec7), "title":"Tutorials Point Overview"}

Note​

By default, MongoDB will update only a single document. To update multiple documents, you need to set the multi parameter to true.

db.mycol.update({'title':'MongoDB Overview'}, {$set:{'title':'New MongoDB Tutorial'}}, {multi:true})

MongoDB save() Method​

The save() method replaces the existing document with the new document passed in the save() method.

Syntax​

The basic syntax of the MongoDB save() method is shown below:

db.COLLECTION_NAME.save({_id:ObjectId(), NEW_DATA})

Example​

The following example replaces the document with the _id '5983548781331adf45ec5'.

db.mycol.save({
   "_id" : ObjectId("507f191e810c19729de860ea"), 
   "title":"Tutorials Point New Topic",
   "by":"Tutorials Point"
})
WriteResult({
   "nMatched" : 0,
   "nUpserted" : 1,
   "nModified" : 0,
   "_id" : ObjectId("507f191e810c19729de860ea")
})
db.mycol.find()
{ "_id" : ObjectId("507f191e810c19729de860ea"), "title":"Tutorials Point New Topic", "by":"Tutorials Point"}
{ "_id" : ObjectId("507f191e810c19729de860e6"), "title":"NoSQL Overview"}
{ "_id" : ObjectId("507f191e810c19729de860e7"), "title":"Tutorials Point Overview"}

MongoDB findOneAndUpdate() Method​

The findOneAndUpdate() method updates the values in the existing document.

Syntax​

The basic syntax of the findOneAndUpdate() method is as follows:

db.COLLECTION_NAME.findOneAndUpdate(SELECTION_CRITERIA, UPDATED_DATA)

Example​

Assume we have created a collection named empDetails and inserted three documents in it as shown below:

db.empDetails.insertMany([
    {
        "First_Name": "Radhika",
        "Last_Name": "Sharma",
        "Age": "26",
        "e_mail": "radhika_sharma.123@gmail.com",
        "phone": "9000012345"
    },
    {
        "First_Name": "Rachel",
        "Last_Name": "Christopher",
        "Age": "27",
        "e_mail": "Rachel_Christopher.123@gmail.com",
        "phone": "9000054321"
    },
    {
        "First_Name": "Fathima",
        "Last_Name": "Sheik",
        "Age": "24",
        "e_mail": "Fathima_Sheik.123@gmail.com",
        "phone": "9000054321"
    }
])

The following example updates the age and email values of the document with the name 'Radhika'.

db.empDetails.findOneAndUpdate(
    {First_Name: 'Radhika'},
    { $set: { Age: '30', e_mail: 'radhika_newemail@gmail.com'}}
)
{
    "_id" : ObjectId("5dd6636870fb13eec3963bf5"),
    "First_Name" : "Radhika",
    "Last_Name" : "Sharma",
    "Age" : "30",
    "e_mail" : "radhika_newemail@gmail.com",
    "phone" : "9000012345"
}

MongoDB updateOne() Method​

This method updates a single document that matches the given filter.

Syntax​

The basic syntax of the updateOne() method is as follows:

db.COLLECTION_NAME.updateOne(<filter>, <update>)

Example​

db.empDetails.updateOne(
    {First_Name: 'Radhika'},
    { $set: { Age: '30', e_mail: 'radhika_newemail@gmail.com'}}
)
{ "acknowledged" : true, "matchedCount" : 1, "modifiedCount" : 0 }

MongoDB updateMany() Method​

The updateMany() method updates all the documents that match the given filter.

Syntax​

The basic syntax of the updateMany() method is as follows:

db.COLLECTION_NAME.updateMany(<filter>, <update>)

Example​

db.empDetails.updateMany(
    {Age: { $gt: "25" }},
    { $set: { Age: '00'}}
)
{ "acknowledged" : true, "matchedCount" : 2, "modifiedCount" : 2 }

Viewing Updated Documents​

You can see the updated values if you retrieve the contents of the document using the find method as shown below:

db.empDetails.find()
{ "_id" : ObjectId("5dd6636870fb13eec3963bf5"), "First_Name" : "Radhika", "Last_Name" : "Sharma", "Age" : "00", "e_mail" : "radhika_newemail@gmail.com", "phone" : "9000012345" }
{ "_id" : ObjectId("5dd6636870fb13eec3963bf6"), "First_Name" : "Rachel", "Last_Name" : "Christopher", "Age" : "00", "e_mail" : "Rachel_Christopher.123@gmail.com", "phone" : "9000054321" }
{ "_id" : ObjectId("5dd6636870fb13eec3963bf7"), "First_Name" : "Fathima", "Last_Name" : "Sheik", "Age" : "24", "e_mail" : "Fathima_Sheik.123@gmail.com", "phone" : "9000054321" }

Diagram​

Note​

  • The update() method updates the values in the existing document based on the selection criteria.
  • The save() method replaces the entire document.
  • The findOneAndUpdate() method finds a single document and updates it.
  • The updateOne() method updates one document that matches the filter.
  • The updateMany() method updates all documents that match the filter.

Table of MongoDB Update Methods​

MethodDescription
update()Updates values in the existing document
save()Replaces the existing document
findOneAndUpdate()Finds and updates a single document
updateOne()Updates one document that matches the filter
updateMany()Updates all documents that match the filter