MongoDB Compass Import and Export Tutorial

Supported Import Formats

MongoDB Compass supports importing data in JSON and CSV formats.

JSON files should contain an array of documents or newline-delimited JSON objects.

CSV files should have headers that correspond to field names in the collection.

• JSON: Flexible, supports nested documents and arrays.
• CSV: Flat data structure, suitable for tabular data.

Common Import Issues

Importing data can fail if the file format is incorrect or if data types do not match the collection schema.

Ensure your JSON is valid and CSV headers are accurate.

• Malformed JSON syntax causes import errors.
• CSV files with missing headers or inconsistent columns may fail.
• Data type mismatches can cause partial imports or errors.

Export Format Details

JSON export preserves the document structure including nested fields.

CSV export flattens the document and exports only top-level fields.

• JSON is ideal for re-importing or using with applications that consume JSON.
• CSV is useful for spreadsheets and tabular data analysis.

Filtering Data Before Export

You can filter documents in the collection before exporting to export only relevant data.

Use the query bar in Compass to specify criteria.

• Example: Export only documents where status is 'active'.
• Filtering reduces export file size and focuses on needed data.