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delete

The `delete` command is used to remove documents from a collection. A single document or multiple documents can be deleted based on a specified query filter.

Deletes documents from a collection that match the specified filter criteria.

Syntax

db.collection.deleteOne(
  <filter>,
  <options>
);

db.collection.deleteMany(
  <filter>,
  <options>
);

Parameters

filterobjectrequired

A document that specifies the criteria for deletion. Only the documents that match the filter are deleted.

optionsobject

A document that specifies options for the delete operation. Common options include writeConcern and collation.

Examples

Sample Data

{
  "_id": "0fcc0bf0-ed18-4ab8-b558-9848e18058f4",
  "name": "First Up Consultants | Beverage Shop - Satterfieldmouth",
  "location": {
    "lat": -89.2384,
    "lon": -46.4012
  },
  "staff": {
    "totalStaff": {
      "fullTime": 8,
      "partTime": 20
    }
  },
  "sales": {
    "totalSales": 75670,
    "salesByCategory": [
      {
        "categoryName": "Wine Accessories",
        "totalSales": 34440
      },
      {
        "categoryName": "Bitters",
        "totalSales": 39496
      },
      {
        "categoryName": "Rum",
        "totalSales": 1734
      }
    ]
  },
  "promotionEvents": [
    {
      "eventName": "Unbeatable Bargain Bash",
      "discounts": [
        {
          "categoryName": "Whiskey",
          "discountPercentage": 7
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Delete all documents in a collection

Use `deleteMany` with an empty filter to delete all documents in a collection.

This command removes every document from the stores collection.

Query:

db.stores.deleteMany({})

Output:

{ acknowledged: true, deletedCount: 60570 }

Delete a document that matches a specified query filter

Use `deleteOne` to remove a single document that matches the filter.

This command deletes the document with the specified `_id` value.

Query:

db.stores.deleteOne({"_id": "68471088-4d45-4164-ae58-a9428d12f310"})

Output:

{ acknowledged: true, deletedCount: 1 }

Delete all documents that match a specified query filter

Use `deleteMany` to remove all documents matching the filter criteria.

This command deletes all documents where the discount percentage is 21.

Query:

db.stores.deleteMany({"promotionEvents.discounts.discountPercentage": 21}, {"limit": 0})

Output:

{ acknowledged: true, deletedCount: 142 }

Delete only one of many documents that match a specified query filter

Use `deleteMany` with a limit of 1 to delete only one matching document.

This command deletes just one document where the discount percentage is 21.

Query:

db.stores.deleteMany({"promotionEvents.discounts.discountPercentage": 21}, {"limit": 1})

Output:

{ acknowledged: true, deletedCount: 1 }

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