To run MongoDB queries in the VSCode Playground with the MongoDB for VS
Code extension, follow these steps:
1. Install MongoDB for VS Code Extension
If you haven’t already installed the MongoDB for VS Code extension, follow these
steps:
1. Open VSCode.
2. Go to the Extensions panel on the left (Ctrl + Shift + X).
3. Search for MongoDB for VS Code.
4. Install the extension.
2. Start Your MongoDB Server
Ensure that your MongoDB server is running. Open a terminal and start the
MongoDB server using the following command:
mongod
If MongoDB is installed properly, this will start the server on the default port
(27017).
3. Connect to MongoDB from VSCode
1. After installing the extension, you should see a MongoDB icon in the Activity
Bar (on the left side of VSCode).
2. Click on the MongoDB icon.
3. In the MongoDB panel, click on Connect.
4. Choose Add Connection.
5. Enter the connection string. For a local MongoDB instance, it is usually:
mongodb://localhost:27017
6. Once connected, your databases will appear under the MongoDB section in
the sidebar.
4. Open MongoDB Playground
To run queries in the MongoDB Playground:
1. In the MongoDB panel, click the Playground button at the top. Alternatively,
you can create a new file by selecting New File and saving it with a .js
extension (e.g., query.js).
2. VSCode will automatically open the playground editor where you can write
your MongoDB queries.
5. Write MongoDB Query in Playground
Write a MongoDB query in the Playground file. For example:
// Example MongoDB query
const result = await db.collection('users').find({ age: { $gt: 25 } }).toArray();
result;
In the query:
• db.collection('users'): Refers to the users collection in your connected
database.
• find({ age: { $gt: 25 } }): Finds documents in the users collection where the age
is greater than 25.
6. Run the Query
To run the query in the Playground:
1. After writing the query, you’ll see a Run button at the top right of the
playground window or use the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + R to run the query.
2. The query results will appear at the bottom or in the OUTPUT panel.
7. View the Results
After running the query:
• The results will be displayed in the Output panel or the Results tab.
• If you query for data (e.g., find()), it will return the results in a readable
format.
Example of a Full Playground Script:
// Connect to MongoDB (already connected through extension)
const collection = db.collection('users');
// Find all users over 25 years old
const usersOver25 = await collection.find({ age: { $gt: 25 } }).toArray();
usersOver25;
8. Advanced Queries
You can write complex queries, aggregations, or even update operations in the
Playground. Just make sure that the syntax is correct and follows MongoDB query
language.
Summary:
• Write MongoDB queries in the Playground.
• Run queries using the Run button or shortcut (Ctrl + Alt + R).
• View results in the OUTPUT or RESULTS panel.
