Chapter 5. Building a data model with MongoDB and Mongoose

This chapter covers

How Mongoose helps bridge an Express/Node application to a MongoDB database

Defining schemas for a data model using Mongoose
Connecting an application to a database
Managing databases using the MongoDB shell
Pushing a database into a live environment
Using the correct database depending on the environment, distinguishing between local and live versions of an application

In chapter 4 we ended up by moving our data out of the views and backward down the MVC path into the controllers. Ultimately, the controllers will pass data to the views, but they shouldn’t store it. Figure 5.1 recaps the data flow in an MVC pattern.

Figure 5.1. In an MVC pattern, data is held in the model, processed by a controller, and then rendered by a view.

For storing the data we’ll need a database, specifically MongoDB. So this is our next step in the process: creating a database and data model.

If you haven’t yet built the application from chapter 4, you can get the code from GitHub on the chapter-04 branch at github.com/simonholmes/getting-MEAN. In a fresh folder in terminal the following command will clone it:

$ git clone -b chapter-04 https://github.com/simonholmes/getting-MEAN.git

5.1. Connecting the Express application to MongoDB using Mongoose

5.1.1. Adding Mongoose to our application

Chapter 5. Building a data model with MongoDB and Mongoose

This chapter covers

How Mongoose helps bridge an Express/Node application to a MongoDB database

Figure 5.1. In an MVC pattern, data is held in the model, processed by a controller, and then rendered by a view.

Note

5.1. Connecting the Express application to MongoDB using Mongoose

5.1.1. Adding Mongoose to our application

5.1.2. Adding a Mongoose connection to our application

5.2. Why model the data?

5.2.1. What is Mongoose and how does it work?

5.3. Defining simple Mongoose schemas

5.3.1. The basics of setting up a schema

5.3.2. Using geographic data in MongoDB and Mongoose

5.3.3. Creating more complex schemas with subdocuments

5.3.4. Final schema

5.3.5. Compiling Mongoose schemas into models

5.4. Using the MongoDB shell to create a MongoDB database and add data

5.4.1. MongoDB shell basics

Chapter 5. Building a data model with MongoDB and Mongoose

This chapter covers

How Mongoose helps bridge an Express/Node application to a MongoDB database

Figure 5.1. In an MVC pattern, data is held in the model, processed by a controller, and then rendered by a view.

Note

5.1. Connecting the Express application to MongoDB using Mongoose

5.1.1. Adding Mongoose to our application

5.1.2. Adding a Mongoose connection to our application

5.2. Why model the data?

5.2.1. What is Mongoose and how does it work?

5.3. Defining simple Mongoose schemas

5.3.1. The basics of setting up a schema

5.3.2. Using geographic data in MongoDB and Mongoose

5.3.3. Creating more complex schemas with subdocuments

5.3.4. Final schema

5.3.5. Compiling Mongoose schemas into models

5.4. Using the MongoDB shell to create a MongoDB database and add data

5.4.1. MongoDB shell basics

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