Mongodb $unset leaves empty array object(javascript)

Question

I am using mongo "$unset" command to remove all matching documents for a certain criteria where index is not known.

Let's say collection looks like:-

{
    "_id" : 1,
    "list" : [
        {
            "key" : "a"
        },
        {
            "key" : "b"
        },
        {
            "key" : "c"
        }
    ]
}

Mongo shell command used to unset keys matching "b":-

db.test.update({"list.key":"b"}, {$unset: {'list.$.key':"b"}})

Result:-

{
    "_id" : 1,
    "list" : [ {"key" : "a"}, {}, {"key" : "c"} ]
}

Answer needed for:- How to remove the empty array object?

Note:- I have read pages suggesting to use $pull:null, but that doesn't fit in here.

Thanks!

Sebastian · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-04 11:56:45Z

2

If you really want to unset it first and then pull the element(s) missing key off the array use:

db.test.update(
  { "_id": 1 },  // you can also use { } to clean up the whole collection
  { $pull: { "list": { "key": {$exists: false} } } }
)

But if there is not strong reason for this use pull to do it in one shot:

db.test.insert({ 
  "_id" : 1, 
  "list" : [ { "key": "a" }, { "key": "b" }, { "key": "c" } ] 
})

You can use pull to remove from the document where list contains a key with value b:

db.test.update({ 
  "list.key": "b" }, 
  { $pull: { "list": {"key": "b" } } 
})

This removes the respective element from the array:

db.test.find()
{ "_id" : 1, "list" : [ { "key" : "a" }, { "key" : "c" } ] }

edited May 4, 2014 at 11:56

answered May 4, 2014 at 11:31

Sebastian

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1 Comment

user3601166 Over a year ago

Thanks a lot! Both ways have worked for me, I would prefer direct $pull for one lesser operation.

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