MongoDB Guide: Using Native Drivers with Python and Ruby

Let’s jump into the world of NoSQL with MongoDB, an open-source, document-oriented database. Instead of rows and tables, MongoDB stores data in flexible, JSON-like documents. This makes it highly scalable and popular for web applications. This guide will show you how to get started using the native drivers for Python and Ruby.

💻 The MongoDB Document Model

MongoDB’s format is based on JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), where data is stored in key-value pairs. This schemaless approach means that two documents in the same collection (the equivalent of a table) can have different structures. Each document is automatically given a unique _id field, which acts as its primary key.

💻 Interacting with Python (PyMongo)

The official Python driver for MongoDB is called PyMongo. It provides a simple and intuitive way to connect to your database and manage documents.

1. Install the Driver:
   pip install pymongo
2. Connect and Query:
   

   from pymongo import MongoClient
   
   # Connect to the server
   client = MongoClient('localhost', 27017)
   
   # Select the database and collection
   db = client.LXF
   sampleData = db.sampleData
   
   # Find one document in the collection
   item = sampleData.find_one()
   print(item)

   
   

💻 Interacting with Ruby (mongo-ruby-driver)

The official Ruby driver provides similar functionality for connecting to and interacting with MongoDB.

1. Install the Driver (Gem):
   gem install mongo
2. Connect and Query:
   

   require 'mongo'
   include Mongo
   
   # Connect to the server and select the database
   client = Mongo::Client.new([ '127.0.0.1:27017'], :database => 'LXF')
   
   # Select the collection
   collection = client[:someData]
   
   # Insert multiple documents
   500.times do |n|
       doc = { :n => n*n }
       collection.insert_one(doc)
   end

   
   

Both drivers make it easy to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations. Functions like .insert_one(), .find(), .update_many(), and .delete_one() are your primary tools for data manipulation.

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