How to perform ascending order sort in MongoDB?

To sort documents in ascending order in MongoDB, use the sort() method with a field value of 1. This arranges documents from lowest to highest based on the specified field.

Syntax

db.collectionName.find().sort({fieldName: 1});

Sample Data

Let us create a collection with sample documents to demonstrate sorting ?

db.sortingDemo.insertMany([
    {"Value": 100},
    {"Value": 1},
    {"Value": 150},
    {"Value": 250},
    {"Value": 5},
    {"Value": 199},
    {"Value": 243},
    {"Value": 290}
]);

{
    "acknowledged": true,
    "insertedIds": [
        ObjectId("5c8f8e2ed3c9d04998abf006"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e31d3c9d04998abf007"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e34d3c9d04998abf008"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e37d3c9d04998abf009"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e3bd3c9d04998abf00a"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e3ed3c9d04998abf00b"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e44d3c9d04998abf00c"),
        ObjectId("5c8f8e48d3c9d04998abf00d")
    ]
}

Display all documents from the collection ?

db.sortingDemo.find();

{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e2ed3c9d04998abf006"), "Value": 100}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e31d3c9d04998abf007"), "Value": 1}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e34d3c9d04998abf008"), "Value": 150}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e37d3c9d04998abf009"), "Value": 250}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e3bd3c9d04998abf00a"), "Value": 5}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e3ed3c9d04998abf00b"), "Value": 199}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e44d3c9d04998abf00c"), "Value": 243}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e48d3c9d04998abf00d"), "Value": 290}

Example: Ascending Order Sort

Sort the documents by the Value field in ascending order ?

db.sortingDemo.find().sort({Value: 1});

{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e31d3c9d04998abf007"), "Value": 1}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e3bd3c9d04998abf00a"), "Value": 5}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e2ed3c9d04998abf006"), "Value": 100}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e34d3c9d04998abf008"), "Value": 150}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e3ed3c9d04998abf00b"), "Value": 199}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e44d3c9d04998abf00c"), "Value": 243}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e37d3c9d04998abf009"), "Value": 250}
{"_id": ObjectId("5c8f8e48d3c9d04998abf00d"), "Value": 290}

Key Points

• Use 1 for ascending order (lowest to highest)
• Use -1 for descending order (highest to lowest)
• The sort() method can be chained with find() and other query methods

Conclusion

MongoDB's sort() method with {field: 1} arranges documents in ascending order. This is essential for organizing query results from smallest to largest values based on the specified field.