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How to Use a Database in Node.js

September 20, 2025 • ~6 min read

This beginner-friendly guide will show you how to connect Node.js to a MongoDB database and perform basic operations like creating, reading, updating, and deleting data. Perfect for those starting out with backend development.

1. Prerequisites

2. Create Your Project Folder

Click to copymkdir db-demo
cd db-demo
npm init -y

3. Install Dependencies

Click to copynpm install mongoose dotenv

4. Connect to MongoDB

Click to copy// index.js
require('dotenv').config();
const mongoose = require('mongoose');

mongoose.connect(process.env.MONGO_URI)
  .then(() => console.log('Connected to MongoDB'))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

5. Create a Simple Model

Click to copy// models/User.js
const mongoose = require('mongoose');

const userSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
  name: String,
  email: String
});

module.exports = mongoose.model('User', userSchema);

6. Basic Database Operations

Click to copy// index.js (add below connection code)
const User = require('./models/User');

// Create
const newUser = new User({ name: 'Alice', email: 'alice@example.com' });
newUser.save().then(user => console.log('User created:', user));

// Read
User.find().then(users => console.log('All users:', users));

// Update
User.findOneAndUpdate({ name: 'Alice' }, { email: 'alice@newdomain.com' }, { new: true })
  .then(user => console.log('Updated user:', user));

// Delete
User.deleteOne({ name: 'Alice' }).then(() => console.log('User deleted'));

7. Environment Variables

Click to copy# .env
MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_connection_string

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