$nor Operator in MongoDB – A Brief Overview

In today’s tutorial, I am covering the $nor operator in MongoDB.

The $nor applies a logical NOR operation to an array of one or more query expressions and selects the documents that fail all of the query expressions in the array.

This guide aims to provide different examples for almost every type of query using the $nor operator. So, let us get this guide started without any waste of time!

The $nor Operator Syntax in MongoDB

Let us get a quick look at the syntax of the $nor operator in MongoDB:

{ $nor: [ { expression1 }, { expression2 }, ...  { expressionN } ] }

Using the $nor Operator in MongoDB

Let us get started with using the $nor operator in MongoDB by specifying different types of queries.

Below is the database I would like to use for this tutorial:

> db.drones.find().pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0c"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Nimbari Gryphon Medeta 65",
        "price" : 77500,
        "weight" : "77 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "carbon fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0d"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "X-Strimmer Eye",
        "price" : 23500,
        "weight" : "24 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "glass fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0e"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Khai Balemosh Shefqa TRX",
        "price" : 120500,
        "weight" : "80 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "aluminum",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0f"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Sifinist Croma AX",
        "price" : 99500,
        "weight" : "97 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "lithium",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf10"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Drovce Finnifield FR-7",
        "price" : 87600,
        "weight" : "13 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "polysterene",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("6195514a50f8bacf51bdb6ac"),
        "onSale" : true,
        "name" : "PlayGarra 2078-56",
        "price" : 15000,
        "weight" : "5 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "polysterene",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Cinematography",
                        "Wildlife Watching"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("6195514a50f8bacf51bdb6ad"),
        "onSale" : true,
        "name" : "Frinty Gemini 3X70",
        "price" : 55000,
        "weight" : "22 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "aluminum",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Cinematography",
                        "Wildlife Watching",
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("6195514a50f8bacf51bdb6ae"),
        "onSale" : true,
        "name" : "Rilche Gabbana Flier RG950",
        "price" : 110000,
        "weight" : "100 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "lithium",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Cinematography",
                        "Wildlife Watching",
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}

So, we have 8 documents in our drones collection.

Using the $nor Operation with Two Expressions in MongoDB

In this example, I will use the $nor operator with two expressions.

I want to look for all those documents that do not have the price of 110000 and are not even on sale. I’ll be using the $lte operator in this example.

> db.drones.find( { $nor: [ { price: 110000 }, { onSale: true } ]  } ).pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0c"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Nimbari Gryphon Medeta 65",
        "price" : 77500,
        "weight" : "77 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "carbon fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0d"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "X-Strimmer Eye",
        "price" : 23500,
        "weight" : "24 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "glass fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0e"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Khai Balemosh Shefqa TRX",
        "price" : 120500,
        "weight" : "80 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "aluminum",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0f"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Sifinist Croma AX",
        "price" : 99500,
        "weight" : "97 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "lithium",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf10"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Drovce Finnifield FR-7",
        "price" : 87600,
        "weight" : "13 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "polysterene",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}

Perfect! We found 5 such documents.

Using the $nor Operator with a Comparison Operator in MongoDB

In this example, I will use the $nor operator with a comparison operator in MongoDB.

I want all those documents that do not have prices less than or equal to 60,000 and are not even on sale.

> db.drones.find( { $nor: [ { price: { $lte: 60000 } }, { onSale: true } ] } ).pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0c"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Nimbari Gryphon Medeta 65",
        "price" : 77500,
        "weight" : "77 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "carbon fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0e"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Khai Balemosh Shefqa TRX",
        "price" : 120500,
        "weight" : "80 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "aluminum",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0f"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Sifinist Croma AX",
        "price" : 99500,
        "weight" : "97 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "lithium",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf10"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Drovce Finnifield FR-7",
        "price" : 87600,
        "weight" : "13 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "polysterene",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}

We found 4 documents.

Using the $nor Operator on an Embedded Document

In this example, I will use the $nor operator on an embedded field.

I want to look for all those documents that do not have the value of the embedded document, material, as “glass fibre” and are on sale.

> db.drones.find( { $nor: [ { "additionalDetails.material": "glass fibre" }, { onSale: false } ] } ).pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("6195514a50f8bacf51bdb6ac"),
        "onSale" : true,
        "name" : "PlayGarra 2078-56",
        "price" : 15000,
        "weight" : "5 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "polysterene",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Cinematography",
                        "Wildlife Watching"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("6195514a50f8bacf51bdb6ad"),
        "onSale" : true,
        "name" : "Frinty Gemini 3X70",
        "price" : 55000,
        "weight" : "22 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "aluminum",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Cinematography",
                        "Wildlife Watching",
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("6195514a50f8bacf51bdb6ae"),
        "onSale" : true,
        "name" : "Rilche Gabbana Flier RG950",
        "price" : 110000,
        "weight" : "100 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "lithium",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Cinematography",
                        "Wildlife Watching",
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}

We have found 3 documents matching our query.

Using the $nor Operator on an Embedded Array Field

In this example, I will be using the $nor operator on an embedded array field.

I want all those documents that do not have the given nested array field value and are not even on sale.

> db.drones.find( { $nor: [ { "additionalDetails.moreUses": [
...                         "Cinematography",
...                         "Wildlife Watching",
...                         "Precision Agriculture",
...                         "Land Inspection",
...                         "Water Inspection",
...                         "Videography"
...                 ] }, { onSale: true } ] } ).pretty()


{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0c"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Nimbari Gryphon Medeta 65",
        "price" : 77500,
        "weight" : "77 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "carbon fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0d"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "X-Strimmer Eye",
        "price" : 23500,
        "weight" : "24 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "glass fiber",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Cinematography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0e"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Khai Balemosh Shefqa TRX",
        "price" : 120500,
        "weight" : "80 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "aluminum",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf0f"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Sifinist Croma AX",
        "price" : 99500,
        "weight" : "97 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "lithium",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("61673f46b34f185eb7b2bf10"),
        "onSale" : false,
        "name" : "Drovce Finnifield FR-7",
        "price" : 87600,
        "weight" : "13 kilograms",
        "additionalDetails" : {
                "material" : "polysterene",
                "moreUses" : [
                        "Precision Agriculture",
                        "Land Inspection",
                        "Water Inspection",
                        "Videography"
                ]
        },
        "utility" : [
                "Recreation",
                "Photography",
                "Videography",
                "Delivery",
                "Natural Resource Exploration"
        ]
}

We found 5 documents for this query.

Conclusion

Learn to use the $nor operator in MongoDB.

References

https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/operator/query/nor/

Aneesha S
Aneesha S
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