Create Database - Rich Text - Table of Contents

Create Database - Background Wrapper

Once you have access to a cluster via the MongoDB Shell, you can see all the databases in the cluster that you have access to using the 

 are databases that are part of every MongoDB cluster.

There is no “create” command in the MongoDB Shell. In order to create a database, you will first need to switch the context to a non-existing database using the 

Note that, for now, only the context has been changed. If you enter the 

 command, the result should still be the same:

MongoDB only creates the database when you first store data in that database. This data could be a 

To add a document to your database, use the 

The “user” in the command refers to the collection that the document was being inserted in.

Collections can be created just like databases, by writing a document to them. They can also be created using the 

 indicates that the document was added to the collection.

 command know to put the data into myshinynewdb?

 command, then myshinynewdb became the current database on which commands operate.

To find out which database is the current one, enter the 

 command displays the name of the current database. To switch to a different database, type the 

Some users would rather work with a GUI to create and update their data and collections. The MongoDB GUI, Compass, offers additional functionality like data visualization and performance profiling as well as offering CRUD (create, read, update, delete) access to data, databases, and collections.

Prerequisites for using Compass with MongoDB Atlas

If you are using MongoDB Atlas, the steps to getting to Compass are as follows:

Prerequisites for using Compass with a self-managed MongoDB cluster

The Databases tab in MongoDB Compass has a "Create Database" button.

In MongoDB Compass, you create a database and add its first collection at the same time:

The next step is to insert one or more documents into your database.

Click on your database’s name to see the collection you created, then click on the collection’s name to see the Documents tab:

Click the "Add Data" button to insert one or more documents into your collection.

You can add JSON documents one at a time, or add multiple documents in an array by enclosing comma-separated JSON documents in square brackets, as shown in this example:

Click "Insert to add" the documents to your collection.

Using these simple steps shows how to create a database, a collection, and insert documents.

Now you have a database, collection, and documents to work with and can learn even more. Join the 

 for forums, webinars, and free courses from MongoDB University.

Create Database - Rich Text - Creating a MongoDB database with the CLI

Create a Free Database

Create a MongoDB database in the cloud for free with MongoDB Atlas. No credit card required.

Create Database - Section Overview - Create a Free Database

2025 wrap-up: Voyage AI, AMP launch, & customer wins. Plus, 2026 predictions. Read blog >

Build better RAG. Voyage 4 models & Reranking API are now on Atlas. Read blog >

Introducing Automated Embedding: One-click vector search, no external models. Read blog >

How to Create a Database in MongoDB

Create a Free Database