Document Database
MongoDB
Document database for flexible record shapes
Maintained by
MongoDB, Inc.
Released 2009
Plain explanation
What MongoDB is
MongoDB stores records as documents rather than rows in fixed tables, so each record can carry its own nested structure. That flexibility helps when records genuinely vary and hurts when the data is really relational.
A document-oriented database useful when records are naturally document-shaped and the data model benefits from flexible nested structures.
How Axis uses it
We use MongoDB where the data really is document-shaped. We do not recommend it as a way to skip designing the data model, which is the most common reason projects regret it later.
What it is used for
Where MongoDB shows up in our projects
These are the practical applications we build with it, not a list of everything it can theoretically do.
01
Document-oriented application data
02
Flexible content structures
03
Certain event and catalog workloads
04
Rapidly evolving schemas
Honest assessment
When MongoDB is the right call, and when it is not
Every technology has a range where it performs well and a range where something else is a better answer. We would rather say so up front.
A strong fit when
- The domain is naturally document-oriented
- Nested records are more useful than many relational joins
- Schema flexibility is a genuine project requirement
We would consider another option when
- Financial, operational, or reporting data depends heavily on relational integrity
- The team is choosing a document database only to avoid data modeling
Related services
Where MongoDB fits into an Axis project
Have a project that may use MongoDB?
We can review the requirements and tell you whether it is the right technical choice for what you are building.