In order fully to understand how to use MongoDB, it is important to discuss the terms used to describe MongoDB data structures: documents, fields, and collections. The following table summarizes these three terms by way of illustration. In this table, we also draw an equivalence between MongoDB and RDBMS (Relational Database Management Systems):
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MongoDB
|
RDBMS
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Illustration
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| Document | Row |
 |
| Field | Column |
 |
| Collection | Table |
 |
In the preceding example, we see a document that represents information about a member whose name is Smith. Within the document are fields, the example highlighted being cost. Documents that are stored together for a single logical purpose represent a collection. A MongoDB database consists of one or more collections.
The astute reader will no doubt notice the lack of the MongoDB equivalent to a traditional...
