How to Connect PHP to MongoDB

Connecting PHP to MongoDB allows you to integrate database functionalities into your web applications. MongoDB is a NoSQL database that handles unstructured data, and works for dynamic, data-intensive projects. In this article, you will learn how to connect PHP to MongoDB and work with it.

Write a MongoDB Connection using PHP

If you dont need to work with traditional SQL databases. MongoDB stores data in BSON (binary JSON) format, It is compatible with PHP JSON handling capabilities. Key reasons to use MongoDB with PHP include:

• Dynamic Schema: MongoDB does not require predefined schemas, allowing for data storage.

• Ease of Integration: PHP libraries and extensions make it easy to connect with MongoDB.

To connect PHP to MongoDB, you need to use the MongoDB\Client class provided by the MongoDB PHP library.

Here is an example:

require 'vendor/autoload.php'; // Load Composer's autoloader

use MongoDB\Client;

// Connect to MongoDB
$client = new Client("mongodb://localhost:27017");

// Select a database
$db = $client->selectDatabase('database-name');

// Check the connection
echo "Connected to MongoDB database: " . $db->getDatabaseName();

1. Autoloader:The require 'vendor/autoload.php'; line loads the MongoDB library installed through Composer.
2. Connection String: "mongodb://localhost:27017" specifies the MongoDB host and port.
3. Select Database: The selectDatabase method connects to a database named exampleDB.
4. Check Connection: The getDatabaseName method confirms the connection.

In the following list you will see the some issues when you use mongoDB with PHP.

• MongoDB Extension Not Installed: If you encounter a Class 'MongoDB\Client' not found error, ensure the MongoDB PHP extension is installed and enabled in php.ini.

• Connection Error: Verify that the MongoDB server is running and accessible at the specified localhost and port.

Let’s summarize it.

Wrapping Up

Connecting PHP to MongoDB helps us to build dynamic applications. By following the syntax above, you can establish a connection and perform basic CRUD operations.