How to query MongoDB using the $ne operator?

To query MongoDB using the $ne operator, use it to find documents where a field is not equal to a specified value. The $ne operator excludes documents that match the given value.

Syntax

db.collection.find({fieldName: {$ne: value}});

Create Sample Data

Let us create a collection with student documents ?

db.notEqualToDemo.insertMany([
    {"StudentName": "Larry", "StudentMathMarks": 68},
    {"StudentName": "Chris", "StudentMathMarks": 88},
    {"StudentName": "David", "StudentMathMarks": 45},
    {"StudentName": "Carol", "StudentMathMarks": 69}
]);

{
    "acknowledged": true,
    "insertedIds": [
        ObjectId("5cbd3a6bde8cc557214c0ded"),
        ObjectId("5cbd3a79de8cc557214c0dee"),
        ObjectId("5cbd3a89de8cc557214c0def"),
        ObjectId("5cbd3a97de8cc557214c0df0")
    ]
}

Display All Documents

db.notEqualToDemo.find().pretty();

{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a6bde8cc557214c0ded"),
    "StudentName": "Larry",
    "StudentMathMarks": 68
}
{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a79de8cc557214c0dee"),
    "StudentName": "Chris",
    "StudentMathMarks": 88
}
{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a89de8cc557214c0def"),
    "StudentName": "David",
    "StudentMathMarks": 45
}
{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a97de8cc557214c0df0"),
    "StudentName": "Carol",
    "StudentMathMarks": 69
}

Example: Using $ne Operator

Find all students whose math marks are not equal to 88 ?

db.notEqualToDemo.find({StudentMathMarks: {$ne: 88}}).pretty();

{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a6bde8cc557214c0ded"),
    "StudentName": "Larry",
    "StudentMathMarks": 68
}
{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a89de8cc557214c0def"),
    "StudentName": "David",
    "StudentMathMarks": 45
}
{
    "_id": ObjectId("5cbd3a97de8cc557214c0df0"),
    "StudentName": "Carol",
    "StudentMathMarks": 69
}

Key Points

• $ne returns documents where the field value does not match the specified value.
• Documents with the missing field are also included in the result.
• Works with all data types: numbers, strings, booleans, dates, etc.

Conclusion

The $ne operator is essential for exclusion queries in MongoDB. It selects all documents where a field is not equal to the specified value, making it useful for filtering out unwanted records.