update

Command Fields

The command takes the following fields:

{
  <variable_name_1>: <expression_1>,
  ...,
  <variable_name_n>: <expression_n>
}

{
  <variable_name_1>: <expression_1>,
  ...,
  <variable_name_n>: <expression_n>
}

collation: {
   locale: <string>,
   caseLevel: <boolean>,
   caseFirst: <string>,
   strength: <int>,
   numericOrdering: <boolean>,
   alternate: <string>,
   maxVariable: <string>,
   backwards: <boolean>
}

// INVALID
[
  { "x.a": { $gt: 85 } },
  { "x.b": { $gt: 80 } }
]

// Example 1
[
  { $or: [{"x.a": {$gt: 85}}, {"x.b": {$gt: 80}}] }
]
// Example 2
[
  { $and: [{"x.a": {$gt: 85}}, {"x.b": {$gt: 80}}] }
]
// Example 3
[
  { "x.a": { $gt: 85 }, "x.b": { $gt: 80 } }
]

Returns

The command returns a document that contains the status of the operation. For example:

{
   "ok" : 1,
   "nModified" : 0,
   "n" : 1,
   "upserted" : [
      {
         "index" : 0,
         "_id" : ObjectId("52ccb2118908ccd753d65882")
      }
   ]
}

For details of the output fields, see Output.

Update with an Update Operator Expressions Document

The update statement field u can accept a document that only contains update operator expressions. For example:

updates: [
   {
     q: <query>,
     u: { $set: { status: "D" }, $inc: { quantity: 2 } },
      ...
   },
   ...
]

Then, the update command updates only the corresponding fields in the document.

Update with a Replacement Document

The update statement field u field can accept a replacement document, i.e. the document contains only field:value expressions. For example:

updates: [
   {
      q: <query>,
      u: { status: "D", quantity: 4 },
      ...
   },
   ...
]

Then the update command replaces the matching document with the update document. The update command can only replace a single matching document; i.e. the multi field cannot be true. The update command does not replace the _id value.

Multi-Update Failures

If a single document fails to update in an update command with the multi parameter set to true, no further documents update as part of that command.

For example, create a members collection with the following documents:

db.members.insertMany( [
   { "_id" : 1, "member" : "Taylor", "status" : "pending", "points" : 1},
   { "_id" : 2, "member" : "Alexis", "status" : "enrolled", "points" : 59},
   { "_id" : 3, "member" : "Elizabeth", "status" : "enrolled", "points" : 34}
] )

The following operation creates a document validator on the members collection with a rule that the points value can not equal 60.

db.runCommand( {
   collMod: "members",
   validator: { points: { $ne: 60 } }
} )

This update command increases the points field of every document by 1.

db.runCommand(
 {
    update: "members",
    updates: [
     {
         q: {},
         u: { $inc: { points: 1 } },
         multi: true
     }
    ]
 }
)

After running the command, the collection contains the following documents:

{ _id: 1, member: 'Taylor', status: 'A', points: 2 }
{ _id: 2, member: 'Alexis', status: 'D', points: 59 }
{ _id: 3, member: 'Elizabeth', status: 'C', points: 34 }

The update command updated the points value of the first document but failed to update the second document because of the validator rule that the points value can not equal 60. The third document did not update because no further documents update following a write error.

Update with an Aggregation Pipeline

The update statement field u field can accept an aggregation pipeline [ <stage1>, <stage2>, ... ] that specifies the modifications to perform. The pipeline can consist of the following stages:

• $addFields and its alias $set

• $project and its alias $unset

• $replaceRoot and its alias $replaceWith.

Using the aggregation pipeline allows for a more expressive update statement, such as expressing conditional updates based on current field values or updating one field using the value of another field(s).

For example:

updates: [
   {
      q: <query>,
      u: [
        { $set: { status: "Modified", comments: [ "$misc1", "$misc2" ] } },
        { $unset: [ "misc1", "misc2" ] }
      ],
      ...
   },
   ...
]

For examples, see Update with Aggregation Pipeline.

Upsert with Unique Index

Upserts can create duplicate documents, unless there is a unique index to prevent duplicates.

Consider an example where no document with the name Andy exists and multiple clients issue the following command at roughly the same time:

db.runCommand(
   {
     update: "people",
     updates: [
       { q: { name: "Andy" }, u: { $inc: { score: 1 } }, multi: true, upsert: true }
     ]
   }
)

If all update operations finish the query phase before any client successfully inserts data, and there is no unique index on the name field, each update operation may result in an insert, creating multiple documents with name: Andy.

A unique index on the name field ensures that only one document is created. With a unique index in place, the multiple update operations now exhibit the following behavior:

• Exactly one update operation will successfully insert a new document.

• Other update operations either update the newly-inserted document or fail due to a unique key collision.

  In order for other update operations to update the newly-inserted document, all of the following conditions must be met:

  • The target collection has a unique index that would cause a duplicate key error.

  • The update operation is not updateMany or multi is false.

  • The update match condition is either:

    • A single equality predicate. For example { "fieldA" : "valueA" }

    • A logical AND of equality predicates. For example { "fieldA" : "valueA", "fieldB" : "valueB" }

  • The fields in the equality predicate match the fields in the unique index key pattern.

  • The update operation does not modify any fields in the unique index key pattern.

The following table shows examples of upsert operations that, when a key collision occurs, either result in an update or fail.

{ name : 1 }

db.people.updateOne(
   { name: "Andy" },
   { $inc: { score: 1 } },
   { upsert: true }
)

{ name : 1 }

db.people.updateOne(
   { name: { $ne: "Joe" } },
   { $set: { name: "Andy" } },
   { upsert: true }
 )

{ name : 1 }

db.people.updateOne(
  { name: "Andy", email: "andy@xyz.com" },
  { $set: { active: false } },
  { upsert: true }
)

Limits

For each update element in the updates array, the sum of the query and the update sizes (i.e. q and u ) must be less than or equal to the maximum BSON document size.

The total number of update statements in the updates array must be less than or equal to the maximum bulk size.

Document Validation

The update command adds support for the bypassDocumentValidation option, which lets you bypass document validation when inserting or updating documents in a collection with validation rules.

Sharded Collections

Transactions

update can be used inside distributed transactions.

Update Specific Fields of One Document

Use update operators to update only the specified fields of a document.

For example, create a members collection with the following documents:

db.members.insertMany([
   { _id: 1, member: "abc123", status: "Pending", points: 0, misc1: "note to self: confirm status", misc2: "Need to activate" },
   { _id: 2, member: "xyz123", status: "D", points: 59, misc1: "reminder: ping me at 100pts", misc2: "Some random comment" },
])

The following command uses the $set and $inc update operators to update the status and the points fields of a document where the member equals "abc123":

db.runCommand(
   {
      update: "members",
      updates: [
         {
           q: { member: "abc123" }, u: { $set: { status: "A" }, $inc: { points: 1 } }
         }
      ],
      ordered: false,
      writeConcern: { w: "majority", wtimeout: 5000 }
   }
)

Because <update> document does not specify the optional multi field, the update only modifies one document, even if more than one document matches the q match condition.

The returned document shows that the command found and updated a single document. The command returns:

{ "n" : 1, "nModified" : 1, "ok" : 1, <additional fields if run on a replica set/sharded cluster> }

See Output for details.

After the command, the collection contains the following documents:

{ "_id" : 1, "member" : "abc123", "status" : "A", "points" : 1, "misc1" : "note to self: confirm status", "misc2" : "Need to activate" }
{ "_id" : 2, "member" : "xyz123", "status" : "D", "points" : 59, "misc1" : "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "misc2" : "Some random comment" }

Update Specific Fields of Multiple Documents

Use update operators to update only the specified fields of a document, and include the multi field set to true in the update statement.

For example, a members collection contains the following documents:

{ "_id" : 1, "member" : "abc123", "status" : "A", "points" : 1, "misc1" : "note to self: confirm status", "misc2" : "Need to activate" }
{ "_id" : 2, "member" : "xyz123", "status" : "D", "points" : 59, "misc1" : "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "misc2" : "Some random comment" }

The following command uses the $set and $inc update operators to modify the status and the points fields respectively of all documents in the collection:

db.runCommand(
   {
      update: "members",
      updates: [
         { q: { }, u: { $set: { status: "A" }, $inc: { points: 1 } }, multi: true }
      ],
      ordered: false,
      writeConcern: { w: "majority", wtimeout: 5000 }
   }
)

The update modifies all documents that match the query specified in the q field, namely the empty query which matches all documents in the collection.

The returned document shows that the command found and updated multiple documents. For a replica set, the command returns:

{ "n" : 2, "nModified" : 2, "ok" : 1,  <additional fields if run on a replica set/sharded cluster> }

See Output for details.

After the command, the collection contains the following documents:

{ "_id" : 1, "member" : "abc123", "status" : "A", "points" : 2, "misc1" : "note to self: confirm status", "misc2" : "Need to activate" }
{ "_id" : 2, "member" : "xyz123", "status" : "A", "points" : 60, "misc1" : "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "misc2" : "Some random comment" }

Update with Aggregation Pipeline

The update command can use an aggregation pipeline for the update. The pipeline can consist of the following stages:

• $addFields and its alias $set

• $project and its alias $unset

• $replaceRoot and its alias $replaceWith.

Using the aggregation pipeline allows for a more expressive update statement, such as expressing conditional updates based on current field values or updating one field using the value of another field(s).

{ "_id" : 1, "member" : "abc123", "status" : "A", "points" : 2, "misc1" : "note to self: confirm status", "misc2" : "Need to activate" }
{ "_id" : 2, "member" : "xyz123", "status" : "A", "points" : 60, "misc1" : "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "misc2" : "Some random comment" }

db.runCommand(
   {
      update: "members",
      updates: [
         {
           q: { },
           u: [
              { $set: { status: "Modified", comments: [ "$misc1", "$misc2" ] } },
              { $unset: [ "misc1", "misc2" ] }
           ],
           multi: true
         }
      ],
      ordered: false,
      writeConcern: { w: "majority", wtimeout: 5000 }
   }
)

{ "n" : 2, "nModified" : 2, "ok" : 1, <additional fields if run on a replica set/sharded cluster> }

{ "_id" : 1, "member" : "abc123", "status" : "Modified", "points" : 2, "comments" : [ "note to self: confirm status", "Need to activate" ] }
{ "_id" : 2, "member" : "xyz123", "status" : "Modified", "points" : 60, "comments" : [ "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "Some random comment" ] }

db.students.insertMany( [
   { "_id" : 1, "tests" : [ 95, 92, 90 ] },
   { "_id" : 2, "tests" : [ 94, 88, 90 ] },
   { "_id" : 3, "tests" : [ 70, 75, 82 ] }
] );

db.runCommand(
   {
      update: "students",
      updates: [
         {
           q: { },
           u: [
                 { $set: { average : { $avg: "$tests" } } },
                 { $set: { grade: { $switch: {
                                       branches: [
                                           { case: { $gte: [ "$average", 90 ] }, then: "A" },
                                           { case: { $gte: [ "$average", 80 ] }, then: "B" },
                                           { case: { $gte: [ "$average", 70 ] }, then: "C" },
                                           { case: { $gte: [ "$average", 60 ] }, then: "D" }
                                       ],
                                       default: "F"
                 } } } }
           ],
           multi: true
         }
      ],
      ordered: false,
      writeConcern: { w: "majority", wtimeout: 5000 }
   }
)

{ "n" : 3, "nModified" : 3, "ok" : 1, <additional fields if run on a replica set/sharded cluster> }

{ "_id" : 1, "tests" : [ 95, 92, 90 ], "average" : 92.33333333333333, "grade" : "A" }
{ "_id" : 2, "tests" : [ 94, 88, 90 ], "average" : 90.66666666666667, "grade" : "A" }
{ "_id" : 3, "tests" : [ 70, 75, 82 ], "average" : 75.66666666666667, "grade" : "C" }

Bulk Update

The following example performs multiple update operations on the members collection:

db.runCommand(
   {
      update: "members",
      updates: [
         { q: { status: "P" }, u: { $set: { status: "D" } }, multi: true },
         { q: { _id: 5 }, u: { _id: 5, name: "abc123", status: "A" }, upsert: true }
      ],
      ordered: false,
      writeConcern: { w: "majority", wtimeout: 5000 }
   }
)

The returned document shows that the command modified 10 documents and inserted a document with the _id value 5. See Output for details.

{
   "ok" : 1,
   "nModified" : 10,
   "n" : 11,
   "upserted" : [
      {
         "index" : 1,
         "_id" : 5
      }
   ]
}

Specify Collation

Collation allows users to specify language-specific rules for string comparison, such as rules for lettercase and accent marks.

A collection myColl has the following documents:

{ _id: 1, category: "café", status: "A" }
{ _id: 2, category: "cafe", status: "a" }
{ _id: 3, category: "cafE", status: "a" }

The following operation includes the collation option:

db.runCommand({
   update: "myColl",
   updates: [
     { q: { category: "cafe", status: "a" }, u: { $set: { status: "Updated" } }, collation: { locale: "fr", strength: 1 } }
   ]
})

Specify arrayFilters for Array Update Operations

When updating an array field, you can specify arrayFilters that determine which array elements to update.

db.students.insertMany( [
   { "_id" : 1, "grades" : [ 95, 92, 90 ] },
   { "_id" : 2, "grades" : [ 98, 100, 102 ] },
   { "_id" : 3, "grades" : [ 95, 110, 100 ] }
] );

db.runCommand( {
   update: "students",
   updates: [
     { q: { grades: { $gte: 100 } }, u: { $set: { "grades.$[element]" : 100 } }, arrayFilters: [ { "element": { $gte: 100 } } ], multi: true}
   ]
} )

{ "_id" : 1, "grades" : [ 95, 92, 90 ] }
{ "_id" : 2, "grades" : [ 98, 100, 100 ] }
{ "_id" : 3, "grades" : [ 95, 100, 100 ] }

db.students2.insertMany( [
   {
      "_id" : 1,
      "grades" : [
         { "grade" : 80, "mean" : 75, "std" : 6 },
         { "grade" : 85, "mean" : 90, "std" : 4 },
         { "grade" : 85, "mean" : 85, "std" : 6 }
      ]
   },
   {
      "_id" : 2,
      "grades" : [
         { "grade" : 90, "mean" : 75, "std" : 6 },
         { "grade" : 87, "mean" : 90, "std" : 3 },
         { "grade" : 85, "mean" : 85, "std" : 4 }
      ]
   }
] )

db.runCommand({
   update: "students2",
   updates: [
     { q: { }, u: { $set: { "grades.$[elem].mean" : 100 } }, arrayFilters: [ { "elem.grade": { $gte: 85 } } ], multi: true }
   ]
})

{
   "_id" : 1,
   "grades" : [
      { "grade" : 80, "mean" : 75, "std" : 6 },
      { "grade" : 85, "mean" : 100, "std" : 4 },
      { "grade" : 85, "mean" : 100, "std" : 6 }
   ]
}
{
   "_id" : 2,
   "grades" : [
      { "grade" : 90, "mean" : 100, "std" : 6 },
      { "grade" : 87, "mean" : 100, "std" : 3 },
      { "grade" : 85, "mean" : 100, "std" : 4 }
   ]
}

Specify hint for Update Operations

Create a sample members collection with the following documents:

db.members.insertMany([
   { "_id" : 1, "member" : "abc123", "status" : "P", "points" :  0,  "misc1" : null, "misc2" : null },
   { "_id" : 2, "member" : "xyz123", "status" : "A", "points" : 60,  "misc1" : "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "misc2" : "Some random comment" },
   { "_id" : 3, "member" : "lmn123", "status" : "P", "points" :  0,  "misc1" : null, "misc2" : null },
   { "_id" : 4, "member" : "pqr123", "status" : "D", "points" : 20,  "misc1" : "Deactivated", "misc2" : null },
   { "_id" : 5, "member" : "ijk123", "status" : "P", "points" :  0,  "misc1" : null, "misc2" : null },
   { "_id" : 6, "member" : "cde123", "status" : "A", "points" : 86,  "misc1" : "reminder: ping me at 100pts", "misc2" : "Some random comment" }
])

Create the following indexes on the collection:

db.members.createIndex( { status: 1 } )
db.members.createIndex( { points: 1 } )

The following update operation explicitly hints to use the index { status: 1 }:

db.runCommand({
   update: "members",
   updates: [
     { q: { "points": { $lte: 20 }, "status": "P" }, u: { $set: { "misc1": "Need to activate" } }, hint: { status: 1 }, multi: true }
   ]
})

The update command returns the following:

{ "n" : 3, "nModified" : 3, "ok" : 1 }

To see the index used, run explain on the operation:

db.runCommand(
   {
     explain: {
       update: "members",
       updates: [
         { q: { "points": { $lte: 20 }, "status": "P" }, u: { $set: { "misc1": "Need to activate" } }, hint: { status: 1 }, multi: true }
       ]
     },
     verbosity: "queryPlanner"
   }
)

The explain does not modify the documents.

Use Variables in let Option or c Field

Variables can be defined in the let option or the c field and accessed in the updates array.

Create a collection cakeFlavors:

db.cakeFlavors.insertMany( [
   { _id: 1, flavor: "chocolate" },
   { _id: 2, flavor: "strawberry" },
   { _id: 3, flavor: "cherry" }
] )

The following example defines targetFlavor and newFlavor variables in let and uses the variables to change the cake flavor from cherry to orange:

db.runCommand( {
   update: db.cakeFlavors.getName(),
   updates: [
      { q: { $expr: { $eq: [ "$flavor", "$$targetFlavor" ] } },
        u: [ { $set: { flavor: "$$newFlavor" } } ] }
   ],
   let : { targetFlavor: "cherry", newFlavor: "orange" }
} )

The next example defines targetFlavor and newFlavor variables in c and uses the variables to change the cake flavor from chocolate to vanilla:

db.runCommand( {
   update: db.cakeFlavors.getName(),
   updates: [
      { q: { $expr: { $eq: [ "$flavor", "$$targetFlavor" ] } },
        u: [ { $set: { flavor: "$$newFlavor" } } ],
        c: { targetFlavor: "chocolate", newFlavor: "vanilla" } }
    ]
} )