$set Operator in MongoDB – Quick Guide

In this tutorial, I will cover the $set operator in MongoDB.

The $set operator replaces the value of a given field with a given value. If the $set operator is given a field that does not exist, then it will create a new field and assign the given value to it. however, if that field meets a type constraint, the operation is likely to throw an error.

This guide will give you different examples of how to use the $set operator in MongoDB. let us get started with this powerful guide!

Also read: $unset Operator in MongoDB: Quick Guide

The $set Operator Syntax in MongoDB

Below is the syntax for the $set operator in MongoDB when using in the mongo shell:

{ $set: { field1: value1, ... } }

Using the $set Operator in MongoDB

Let us get started with the examples of using the $set operator in MongoDB. We will first take a look at the available documents inside our “cats collection” that we want to work in:

> db.cats.find().pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb6c728ff814b64eb3411"),
        "name" : "Stephanie",
        "age" : 22,
        "breed" : "Persian",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb73728ff814b64eb3412"),
        "name" : "Whiskers",
        "age" : 4,
        "breed" : "Scottish Fold",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb84628ff814b64eb3413"),
        "name" : "Krissy",
        "age" : 6,
        "breed" : "Turkish Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc5ea78db75e09057cd0"),
        "name" : "Cassy",
        "age" : 16,
        "breed" : "Japanese Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc9da78db75e09057cd1"),
        "name" : "Shane",
        "age" : 11,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebed7a78db75e09057cd2"),
        "name" : "Phoebe",
        "age" : 21,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}

We have in total 6 cats documents in our collection.

Updating Values of Top-Level Fields Using the $set Operator in MongoDB

This section will focus on setting or updating or modifying values of a top-level that is a non-nested field in MongoDB.

Let’s say we want to modify the breed’s name for Stephanie from Persian to Persian Cat.

> db.cats.update(
...    { "name" : "Stephanie" },
...    { $set: { "breed": "Persian Cat"} }
... )
WriteResult({ "nMatched" : 1, "nUpserted" : 0, "nModified" : 1 })
> db.cats.find().pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb6c728ff814b64eb3411"),
        "name" : "Stephanie",
        "age" : 22,
        "breed" : "Persian Cat",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb73728ff814b64eb3412"),
        "name" : "Whiskers",
        "age" : 4,
        "breed" : "Scottish Fold",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb84628ff814b64eb3413"),
        "name" : "Krissy",
        "age" : 6,
        "breed" : "Turkish Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc5ea78db75e09057cd0"),
        "name" : "Cassy",
        "age" : 16,
        "breed" : "Japanese Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc9da78db75e09057cd1"),
        "name" : "Shane",
        "age" : 11,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebed7a78db75e09057cd2"),
        "name" : "Phoebe",
        "age" : 21,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 20000
        }
}

Perfect! Staphanie’s breed’s name is now set to Persian Cat.

Updating Values of Nested/Embedded Fields Using the $set Operator

This section will focus on setting or updating or modifying values of an embedded field that is a non-top-level field in MongoDB.

Let’s say we want to sell all our cats for 30000 now instead of 20000.

> db.cats.updateMany(
...    {  },
...    { $set: { "moreDetails.cost": 30000 } }
... )
{ "acknowledged" : true, "matchedCount" : 6, "modifiedCount" : 6 }
> db.cats.find().pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb6c728ff814b64eb3411"),
        "name" : "Stephanie",
        "age" : 22,
        "breed" : "Persian Cat",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb73728ff814b64eb3412"),
        "name" : "Whiskers",
        "age" : 4,
        "breed" : "Scottish Fold",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb84628ff814b64eb3413"),
        "name" : "Krissy",
        "age" : 6,
        "breed" : "Turkish Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc5ea78db75e09057cd0"),
        "name" : "Cassy",
        "age" : 16,
        "breed" : "Japanese Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc9da78db75e09057cd1"),
        "name" : "Shane",
        "age" : 11,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        }
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebed7a78db75e09057cd2"),
        "name" : "Phoebe",
        "age" : 21,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        }
}

Great! We have now changed the cost of our cats to 30000.

Updating Values of Non-Existent Array Fields Using the $set Operator

This section will focus on setting a non-existent array field to all our documents.

We will be adding a likes array field for all our cats.

> db.cats.updateMany(
...    {  },
...    { $set: { "likes": ["fish", "milk", "chicken", "blankets"] } }
... )
{ "acknowledged" : true, "matchedCount" : 6, "modifiedCount" : 6 }
> db.cats.find().pretty()
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb6c728ff814b64eb3411"),
        "name" : "Stephanie",
        "age" : 22,
        "breed" : "Persian Cat",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        },
        "likes" : [
                "fish",
                "milk",
                "chicken",
                "blankets"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb73728ff814b64eb3412"),
        "name" : "Whiskers",
        "age" : 4,
        "breed" : "Scottish Fold",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : true
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        },
        "likes" : [
                "fish",
                "milk",
                "chicken",
                "blankets"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602eb84628ff814b64eb3413"),
        "name" : "Krissy",
        "age" : 6,
        "breed" : "Turkish Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        },
        "likes" : [
                "fish",
                "milk",
                "chicken",
                "blankets"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc5ea78db75e09057cd0"),
        "name" : "Cassy",
        "age" : 16,
        "breed" : "Japanese Angora",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : true,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        },
        "likes" : [
                "fish",
                "milk",
                "chicken",
                "blankets"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebc9da78db75e09057cd1"),
        "name" : "Shane",
        "age" : 11,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        },
        "likes" : [
                "fish",
                "milk",
                "chicken",
                "blankets"
        ]
}
{
        "_id" : ObjectId("602ebed7a78db75e09057cd2"),
        "name" : "Phoebe",
        "age" : 21,
        "breed" : "Bobtail",
        "personality" : {
                "dogFriendly" : false,
                "childFriendly" : false
        },
        "moreDetails" : {
                "cost" : 30000
        },
        "likes" : [
                "fish",
                "milk",
                "chicken",
                "blankets"
        ]
}

Perfect! The likes array field has now been added to all our documents.

Read More: Node.js Tutorial for Beginners Step by Step With Examples

Conclusion

In this article, we learned to use the $set operator with examples here. To learn more on MongDB, follow CodeForGeek.

Noteworthy References

MongoDB Docs

Aneesha S
Aneesha S
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