Using renameCollection() In MongoDB

The renameCollection() method in MongoDB is used to rename an existing collection within the same database.

Syntax:

db.collection.renameCollection( newName, { dropTarget: <boolean> } )

Explanation:

• db is the database object.
• collection is the existing collection object.
• newName is the new name for the collection.
• dropTarget is an optional parameter that specifies whether to drop the target collection if it already exists. The default value is false.

Examples of renameCollection():

Suppose we have a gfg database in courses collection which stores information about various courses. Each document in the collection represents a course and contains details such as the course name, Instructor name, fees, and duration.

After creating collections in gfg database looks like:

Example 1: Rename the courses collection to new_courses:

Let’s rename the collection name from courses collection to new_courses collection.

Query:

db.courses.renameCollection("new_courses", { dropTarget: true })

Output:

Example 2: Rename the new_courses collection to top_courses”

Let’s rename the collection name from new_courses collection to top_courses.

Query:

db.new_courses.renameCollection("top_courses", { dropTarget: true })

Output:

Note: renameCollection cannot be used to move collections between databases.

Renaming a collection in MongoDB is a common task faced by developers and database administrators. In this article, we will learn the different methods to rename a collection in MongoDB, including the renameCollection() method and the db.runCommand() method. By the end of this article, we will have a clear understanding of how to rename a collection in MongoDB.