How do I drop a MongoDB database from the command line?

Question

What's the easiest way to do this from my bash prompt?

Answer 1

Like this:

mongo <dbname> --eval "db.dropDatabase()"

More info on scripting the shell from the command line here: https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/tutorial/write-scripts-for-the-mongo-shell/#scripting

Edit:

In Mongo 6.0 mongo was removed and replaced with mongosh which has to be installed separately. More info here: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/mongodb-shell/#mongodb-binary-bin.mongosh

The equivalent in mongosh would be:

mongosh --eval "use <dbname>" --eval  "db.dropDatabase()"

Answer 2

The best way to do it is from the mongodb console:

> use mydb; 
> db.dropDatabase();

Alternatively, you can stop mongod and delete the data files from your data directory, then restart.

Hint: you can also move the data files to a subfolder, and delete them if you're sure you no longer need them.

Answer 3

I found this easy to remember:

mongo //to start the mongodb shell

show dbs //to list existing databases

use <dbname> //the <dbname> is the database you'd like to drop

db //should show <dbname> just to be sure I'm working with the right database

db.dropDatabase() //will delete the database & return { "dropped" : "<dbname>", "ok" : 1 }

Answer 4

You don't need heredocs or eval, mongo itself can act as an interpreter.

#!/usr/bin/env mongo
var db = new Mongo().getDB("someDatabase");
db.dropDatabase();

Make the file executable and run it.

Answer 5

You could also use a "heredoc":

mongo localhost/db <<EOF
db.dropDatabase()
EOF

Results in output like:

mongo localhost/db <<EOF
db.dropDatabase()
EOF
MongoDB shell version: 2.2.2
connecting to: localhost/db
{ "dropped" : "db", "ok" : 1 }    
bye

I like to use heredocs for things like this, in case you want more complex sequence of commands.

Answer 6

Here are some use full delete operations for mongodb using mongo shell

To delete particular document in collections: db.mycollection.remove( {name:"stack"} )

To delete all documents in collections: db.mycollection.remove()

To delete collection : db.mycollection.drop()

to delete database : first go to that database by use mydb command and then

db.dropDatabase()

directly from command prompt or blash : mongo mydb --eval "db.dropDatabase()

Answer 7

Other way:

echo "db.dropDatabase()" | mongo <database name>

Answer 8

Execute in a terminal:

mongo // To go to shell

show databases // To show all existing databases.

use <DATA_BASE> // To switch to the wanted database.

db.dropDatabase() // To remove the current database.

Answer 9

Open another terminal window and execute the following commands,

mongodb
use mydb
db.dropDatabase()

Output of that operation shall look like the following

MAC:FOLDER USER$ mongodb
> show databases
local      0.78125GB
mydb       0.23012GB
test       0.23012GB
> use mydb
switched to db mydb
>db.dropDatabase()
{ "dropped" : "mydb", "ok" : 1 }
>

Please note that mydb is still in use, hence inserting any input at that time will initialize the database again.

Answer 10

Using Javascript, you can easily create a drop_bad.js script to drop your database:

create drop_bad.js:

use bad;
db.dropDatabase();

Than run 1 command in terminal to exectue the script using mongo shell:

mongo < drop_bad.js

Answer 11

Open a terminal and type:

mongo 

The below command should show the listed databases:

show dbs 

/* the <dbname> is the database you'd like to drop */
use <dbname> 

/* the below command will delete the database */
db.dropDatabase()  

The below should be the output in the terminal:

{
  "dropped": "<dbname>",
  "ok": 1
}

Answer 12

one liner remote remove all collections from mongo database

note must use --host, (-h is help for mongo command), and -d is not an option, select the db and command after password.

mongo --host <mongo_host>:<mongo_port> -u <db_user> -p <db_pass> <your_db> --eval "db.dropDatabase()"

Answer 13

Surprised that we haven't seen this variation come up. This minimizes extra args on the command line and explicitly shows the DB being switched to FOO and then dropped:

$ mongo --host "mongodb://machine:port" --eval 'db.getSiblingDB("FOO").dropDatabase();'

Answer 14

Eventhough there are several methods, The best way (most efficient and easiest) is using db.dropDatabase()

Answer 15

In you command prompt, First connect to mongodb using following command:

mongo -h [host-name]:[port:number] -d [dbname] -u [username] -p [password]

you will be accessing db with <dbname>.

Run the following command to drop the whole database:

db.dropDatabase()

Answer 16

LogIn into your mongoDB command line: And type the below commands. use "YOUR_DATABASE_NAME"; db.dropDatabase();

Answer 17

db will show the current Database name type: db.dropDatabase();

1- select the database to drop by using 'use' keyword.

2- then type db.dropDatabase();

Answer 18

use following command from mongo shell to drop db

use <database name>; 
db.dropDatabase();

Answer 19

In order to be really sure that you drop the correct database use

mongo <connection properties> --eval "db.getSiblingDB('dbname').dropDatabase()" 

See Authentication failure while trying to save to mongodb to understand the concerns.

Answer 20

You can first switch to your database which you want to delete. Then you can delete the same by using the command dropDatabase().

Code :

>use dbName

>db.dropdataBase()

The result will be :

{ "dropped" : "dbName", "ok" : 1 }

If you want to delete a specific collection in a database, then switch to the database and enter the following command.

Code:

>use dbName

db.collection.drop()

The result will be :

true

If you want a better understanding of MongoDB shell commands it's better to follow the documentation always.

Link to the documentation : https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/method/#std-label-js-administrative-methods

Answer 21

Drop a MongoDB database using python:

import argparse

import pymongo


if __name__ == "__main__":
    """
    Drop a Database.
    """

    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
    parser.add_argument("--host", default='mongodb://localhost:27017',
                        help="mongodb URI [default: %(default)s]")
    parser.add_argument("--database", default=None,
                        help="database name: %(default)s]")

    args = parser.parse_args()

    client = pymongo.MongoClient(host=args.host)

    if args.database in client.list_database_names():
        client.drop_database(args.database)
        print(f"Dropped: '{args.database}'")
    else:
        print(f"Database '{args.database}' does not exist")