create vs. save in Mongoose (MongoDB) with Node.js

Hello everyone,

I assume you have completed your set up of Mongoose with Node.js/Express.js/Nest.js.

In this blog, we will discuss how the documents can be stored in MongoDB with two different ways and their differences.

Video Explanation

Please find the video explanation below:

Creating Document with .save()

This is one way to create a document:

Assuming no validation is put in place then whatever "valid" object that you send through, will be stored as a document in MongoDB in the collection.

Creating Document with .create()

This is another way of creating document in MongoDB:

Difference in .create() and .save()

Official docs suggest this:

Shortcut for saving one or more documents to the database. MyModel.create(docs) does new MyModel(doc).save() for every doc in docs.

What it means is that if you call .create(), behind the scenes, it calls .save().

It means, if I am using .create() like this:

const shameel = await User.create({name: 'Shameel', age: 99});

Then, this is hapenning behind the scenes:

const shameel = await new User.create({name: 'Shameel', age: 99}).save();

Schema Validation

.save() bypasses schema validation whereas, .create() adheres to schema validation and throws error.

Creating Multiple Documents

.create() will create documents if you pass an array like this:

.save() will throw an error if you tend to send an array of objects like that.

Conclusion

You can store documents by the help of create() and save(). If you plan to make sure validators/hooks are called and you can store multiple documents in one go then go for create, else you can go for save.

Happy coding! 🚀

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Comments

[Matthew Nichols]

Thanks. I am just getting back into Mongoose after some time away and this was helpful.