Create User model

[github-learning-lab[bot]]

Let's start by making a User model for mongodb using the mongoose library. This will be the template used to describe what each individual document will look like in our collection.

Find the "models" directory in the root of your project and open "User.js", then add this code to it:

const mongoose = require('mongoose');

const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
  name: { type: String, required: true },
  email: { type: String, required: true, unique: true },
  password: { type: String, required: true }
});

module.exports= mongoose.model('User',UserSchema)

Looks like a JS object doesn't it? That is one of the cool things about MongoDB, it is easy to transfer data from the frontend to the backend. Think of this as a factory, or mold, that can create new User documents in a User collection.

Looking at the model above, which key (name, email, or password) needs to have unique values?

Leave a comment with your answer to continue

[KaungKhantThar7777]

email

[github-learning-lab[bot]]

Correct! In this case, emails need to be unique. It makes sense to have at least one unique value, to avoid errors with authentication later on.

Here we are using route chaining as a shorthand for the "get", "put", and "delete" routes, since they all use the '/users/:id' endpoint. Remember that in 'users/:id' endpoint, id is a variable which can be accessed in the "req.params".

Now that we have a model, let's import it and connect to our database. Go to your server.js file and add these lines after all the libraries are imported.

const User=require('./models/User');
mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost/userData')

The first line makes our User model available to use in express routes. The second line connects us to a local mongoDB database called: userData.

In the server.js file, you will notice some express routes set up for our users. It should look like this:

// CREATE
app.post('/users',(req,res)=>{
  // User.create()
})

app.route('/users/:id')
// READ
.get((req,res)=>{
  // User.findById()
})
// UPDATE
.put((req,res)=>{
  // User.findByIdAndUpdate()
})
// DELETE
.delete((req,res)=>{
  // User.findByIdAndDelete()
})

Inside each (req,res) callback function we use mongoose methods on our User model to Create, Read, Update, and Delete individual user documents in our users collection. The "POST" route is different than the others because mongoDB automatically creates an ID for each document when it is created. We are using route chaining as a shorthand for the "GET", "PUT", and "DELETE" routes, since they all use the /users/:id endpoint. The :id part of the endpoint is a variable which can be accessed in the "req.params".

In the commented out code in the routes above, what does User represent?

a. A MongoDB document b. A MongoDB collection c. A Mongoose Model d. Data sent in the request body