stop mongodb creating dbs and collections dynamically

Question

Is there a way to switch off the ability of mongo to sporadically create dbs and collections as soon as it sees one in a query. I run queries on the mongo console all the time and mistype a db or collection name, causing mongo to just create one. There should be a switch to have mongo only explicitly create dbs and collections. I can't find one on the docs.

Answer 1

To be clear, MongoDB does not auto create collections or databases on queries. For collections, they are auto created when you actually save data to them. You can test this yourself, run a query on a previously unknown collection in a database like this:

use unknowndb
db.unknowncollection.find()
show collections

No collection named "unknowncollection" shows up until you insert or save into it.

Databases are a bit more complex. A simple "use unknowndb" will not auto create the database. However, if after you do that you run something like "show collections" it will create the empty database.

I agree, an option to control this behavior would be great. Happy to vote for it if you open a Jira ticket at mongoDB.