# Working with MongoDB

MongoDB is a popular document database that is commonly used in JavaScript applications. The project in the "start" folder has been modified to write values to a MongoDB database. That database doesn't exist. You'll need to create it, run the application a few times, and then query it to ensure that there are records being saved.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Exercise" %}

* Open the Cosmos DB extension
* Connect to "mongodb://mongo"
* Create a new database called "lamp"
* Create a new collection called "colors"
* Run the application with `npm start`
* Change the colors a few times
* Open a new Mongo DB scrapbook
* Query the "colors" collection to see the records
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Answer" %}

* Open the Cosmos DB extension by clicking on the Azure icon in the Activity Bar
* Expand the "Attached Database Accounts" node

![](/files/-Lm6xj0pbt83WDvy5oWq)

* Select "Attach Database Account"

![](/files/-Lm6xvKYc8gj17jsdvai)

* Select MongoDB from the prompt

![](/files/-Lm6y6_O_oxv0Ddk-rHs)

* In the prompt, enter "mongodb://mongo"

![](/files/-Lm6yDS8c1m619gZZzNL)

* Expand the newly attached local Mongo DB database

![](/files/-Lm6yOE4LA0VKAROaIHX)

* Right-click the newly attached MongoDB database and select "Create Database"

![](/files/-Lm6yYcIAfuqyEBsJADG)

* Name the database "lamp" in the prompt

![](/files/-Lm6yg09-XvyaOv7IRBS)

* Enter "colors" for the collection name in the prompt

![](/files/-Lm6ymjRJy26sYdywots)

* Open the Integrated Terminal (**Cmd/Ctrl + \`**)
* Run the application with `npm start`
* Browse to "localhost:3000"

![](/files/-Lm6zBm2_KhcFzjTbu4v)

* Change the color a few times and click the "Go" button
* Make sure you repeat this process a few times
* Return to VS Code and look in the Cosmos DB extension
* Expand the "lamp" database and "colors" collection
* Each document listed inside is one of the colors that was saved from the app

![](/files/-Lm73XItEFLeKS-yKxMw)

* Click on one of the documents to open it in the editor

![](/files/-Lm73dLCXImLPQnf4ukH)

* Change the "color" value and save the document with (**Cmd/Ctrl + S**)
* VS Code will prompt you that it's going to save this record back to the database

![](/files/-Lm73sWF_KVCKAhS9CNb)

* Select "Upload"
* The document is saved back to Mongo DB

![](/files/-Lm73yMq29qEaCRnrPgg)

* Open the Command Palette (**Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P**)
* Select "Cosmos DB: New Mongo Scrapbook"

![](/files/-Lm745TklkT5LOpCjaJS)

* Begin writing a new query by typing "db" and then hitting the period. Notice that VS Code has intellisense for any collections or methods available.

![](/files/-Lm74LgBCrq2e00SB_DC)

* Select "colors" from the list
* Type a find query for the colors collection

```
db.colors.find()
```

* Execute the query with **Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + '**
* View the query results in split pane mode

![](/files/-Lm74gnMmDr66FePFqpd)

* Change the color in the first record
* Save the document with **Cmd/Ctrl + S**
* Select "Upload" from the prompt
* The changes are persisted to Mongo DB

![](/files/-Lm74qTdKBN47BSS9Dz0)

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://burkeholland.gitbook.io/vs-code-can-do-that/exercise-7-working-with-data/working-with-mongodb.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.