Indexing a document (POST/PUT) in Elasticsearch - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to index a document using POST method.

Elasticsearch

POST /my_index/_doc/[1]
{
  "title": "Learn Elasticsearch",
  "content": "Elasticsearch is a search engine"
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A_update

B_search

C1

D_delete

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using _search or _update instead of a document ID.

Omitting the document ID when required.

The document ID is specified after _doc/ in the POST request to index the document.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to index a document using PUT method with a specific ID.

Elasticsearch

PUT /my_index/_doc/[1]
{
  "user": "alice",
  "message": "Hello Elasticsearch"
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A_update

B2

C_search

D_delete

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using action keywords instead of an ID.

Confusing PUT with POST endpoints.

The document ID 2 is used in the PUT request to index or update the document.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly index a document with ID 3.

Elasticsearch

POST /my_index/_doc/[1]
{
  "name": "Bob",
  "age": 30
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A_update

B_bulk

C_search

D3

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using _update or _search instead of the document ID.

Missing the document ID in the URL.

The document ID 3 must be specified after _doc/ to index the document correctly.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to index a document with ID 4 and specify the index name.

Elasticsearch

[1] /[2]/_doc/4
{
  "title": "Elasticsearch Basics",
  "tags": ["search", "database"]
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

APUT

Bmy_index

CPOST

Dusers

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using POST instead of PUT for a specific document ID.

Using wrong index name.

Use PUT method to index with a specific ID and specify the index name my_index.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to index a document with ID 5 in the 'blog' index using POST method.

Elasticsearch

[1] /[2]/[3]/5
{
  "author": "Jane",
  "content": "Elasticsearch tutorial"
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A_doc

Bblog

DPOST

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up HTTP method and URL parts.

Using wrong index or type names.

The POST method is used to index the document in the blog index under the _doc type with ID 5.

Practice

1. What is the main difference between using POST and PUT when indexing a document in Elasticsearch?

easy

A. POST adds a document with an auto-generated ID, PUT adds or replaces a document with a specified ID.

B. POST deletes a document, PUT updates a document.

C. POST is used only for searching, PUT is used for indexing.

D. POST requires an ID, PUT never requires an ID.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand POST behavior

   POST indexes a document and Elasticsearch generates a unique ID automatically.

2. Step 2: Understand PUT behavior

   PUT indexes a document with the ID you specify, replacing any existing document with that ID.

3. Final Answer:

   POST adds a document with an auto-generated ID, PUT adds or replaces a document with a specified ID. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Method difference = auto ID vs specified ID [OK]

Hint: Remember: POST auto-IDs, PUT needs your ID [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking POST deletes documents
• Confusing PUT with search operation
• Assuming PUT never requires an ID

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to index a document with ID "123" using PUT in Elasticsearch?

easy

A. POST /index/_doc {"field": "value"}

B. POST /index/_doc/123 {"field": "value"}

C. PUT /index/_doc {"field": "value"}

D. PUT /index/_doc/123 {"field": "value"}

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct HTTP method and URL

   To specify an ID, use PUT with the URL including the ID: /index/_doc/123.

2. Step 2: Confirm request body format

   The body contains the document fields as JSON, e.g., {"field": "value"}.

3. Final Answer:

   PUT /index/_doc/123 {"field": "value"} -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   PUT + ID in URL = correct syntax [OK]

Hint: PUT with ID in URL, POST without ID [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using POST with an ID in URL
• Omitting the ID when using PUT
• Confusing URL structure

3. Given this request to index a document:

POST /products/_doc
{
  "name": "Coffee Mug",
  "price": 12.99
}

What will Elasticsearch do after this request?

medium

A. Index the document with an auto-generated ID under the 'products' index.

B. Replace any existing document with ID 'products'.

C. Return an error because ID is missing.

D. Create a new index named '_doc'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the HTTP method and URL

   The request uses POST on /products/_doc, which means index 'products' and type '_doc'.

2. Step 2: Understand ID assignment

   Since no ID is specified, Elasticsearch generates a unique ID automatically and indexes the document.

3. Final Answer:

   Index the document with an auto-generated ID under the 'products' index. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   POST without ID = auto-generated ID [OK]

Hint: POST without ID means auto ID assigned [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking missing ID causes error
• Assuming document replaces existing one
• Confusing index and type names

4. You tried to index a document with PUT /myindex/_doc without specifying an ID. What is the problem with this request?

medium

A. It will create a document with a random ID.

B. It will update all documents in the index.

C. It will cause a syntax error because ID is missing in the URL.

D. It will delete the entire index.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the HTTP method and URL requirements

   PUT requires an explicit document ID in the URL to index or replace a document.

2. Step 2: Identify the error cause

   Since the ID is missing, Elasticsearch will reject the request with an error due to invalid URL syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   It will cause a syntax error because ID is missing in the URL. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   PUT needs ID in URL [OK]

Hint: PUT without ID in URL causes error [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming PUT auto-generates ID
• Thinking it deletes index
• Believing it updates all documents

5. You want to update a document if it exists or create it if it doesn't, using ID "789" in index "users". Which is the best way to do this in Elasticsearch?

hard

A. Use POST /users/_doc with the document body {"id": "789"}.

B. Use PUT /users/_doc/789 with the document body.

C. Use POST /users/_doc without ID.

D. Use DELETE /users/_doc/789 then POST /users/_doc.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand update or create behavior

   PUT with a specified ID will create the document if missing or replace it if it exists.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   POST without ID creates new documents with auto IDs, so it won't update by ID. Deleting then posting is inefficient.

3. Final Answer:

   Use PUT /users/_doc/789 with the document body. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   PUT with ID updates or creates [OK]

Hint: PUT with ID updates or creates document [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Specifying ID in the document body
• Omitting ID when update needed
• Deleting before posting wastes resources