How to get specific data in different formats with MongoDB?

MongoDB provides different formatting options to retrieve and display data from collections. You can use find() for basic queries and pretty() for formatted output display.

Syntax

// Basic query
db.collection.find(query)

// Formatted output
db.collection.find(query).pretty()

// With limit
db.collection.find(query).limit(number)

Sample Data

db.getSpecificData.insertMany([
    {
        "StudentName": "John",
        "Information": {
            "FatherName": "Chris",
            "Place": {
                "CountryName": "US",
                "ZipCode": "111344"
            },
            "id": "1"
        }
    },
    {
        "StudentName": "Carol",
        "Information": {
            "FatherName": "Robert",
            "Place": {
                "CountryName": "UK",
                "ZipCode": "746464"
            },
            "id": "2"
        }
    },
    {
        "StudentName": "David",
        "Information": {
            "FatherName": "Carol",
            "Place": {
                "CountryName": "US",
                "ZipCode": "567334"
            },
            "id": "3"
        }
    },
    {
        "StudentName": "Jace",
        "Information": {
            "FatherName": "Bob",
            "Place": {
                "CountryName": "US",
                "ZipCode": "999999"
            },
            "id": "4"
        }
    }
]);

Method 1: Formatted Output with pretty()

Query to get specific data with formatted display using pretty() method ?

db.getSpecificData.find({'Information.Place.CountryName': "US"}).limit(2).pretty();

{
    "_id" : ObjectId("5e039abdf5e889d7a5199509"),
    "StudentName" : "John",
    "Information" : {
        "FatherName" : "Chris",
        "Place" : {
            "CountryName" : "US",
            "ZipCode" : "111344"
        },
        "id" : "1"
    }
}
{
    "_id" : ObjectId("5e039ae7f5e889d7a519950b"),
    "StudentName" : "David",
    "Information" : {
        "FatherName" : "Carol",
        "Place" : {
            "CountryName" : "US",
            "ZipCode" : "567334"
        },
        "id" : "3"
    }
}

Method 2: Compact Format (Default)

Query to get the same data in compact single-line format ?

db.getSpecificData.find({'Information.Place.CountryName': "US"}).limit(2);

{ "_id" : ObjectId("5e039abdf5e889d7a5199509"), "StudentName" : "John", "Information" : { "FatherName" : "Chris", "Place" : { "CountryName" : "US", "ZipCode" : "111344" }, "id" : "1" } }
{ "_id" : ObjectId("5e039ae7f5e889d7a519950b"), "StudentName" : "David", "Information" : { "FatherName" : "Carol", "Place" : { "CountryName" : "US", "ZipCode" : "567334" }, "id" : "3" } }

Key Differences

• pretty() method formats output with proper indentation and line breaks for better readability.
• Default find() displays data in compact, single-line format.
• Both methods return the same data, only the display format differs.

Conclusion

Use pretty() for human-readable formatted output and default find() for compact display. Both methods retrieve identical data but present it in different visual formats.