Comparison expressions ($eq, $gt in aggregation) in MongoDB

Introduction

Comparison expressions help you check if values are equal or greater than others inside MongoDB aggregation. This lets you filter or create new data based on conditions.

When you want to find documents where a field equals a specific value.

When you need to select documents where a number is greater than a certain limit.

When creating new fields that depend on comparing values inside aggregation.

When filtering data in a pipeline to only keep matching documents.

When grouping data and applying conditions to decide what to include.

Syntax

MongoDB

{ $eq: [ <expression1>, <expression2> ] }
{ $gt: [ <expression1>, <expression2> ] }

Both $eq and $gt take an array of two expressions to compare.

They return true or false depending on the comparison result.

Examples

Checks if the field status equals "A".

MongoDB

{ $eq: [ "$status", "A" ] }

Checks if the field score is greater than 80.

MongoDB

{ $gt: [ "$score", 80 ] }

Compares two fields age and minAge for equality.

MongoDB

{ $eq: [ "$age", "$minAge" ] }

Sample Program

This aggregation shows each student's name and two new fields: passed is true if their score is greater than 60, and perfectScore is true if their score equals 100.

MongoDB

db.students.aggregate([
  {
    $project: {
      name: 1,
      passed: { $gt: [ "$score", 60 ] },
      perfectScore: { $eq: [ "$score", 100 ] }
    }
  }
])

Important Notes

Remember to use the $ sign before field names inside expressions.

$eq and $gt return boolean values that you can use to filter or create new fields.

These expressions work inside aggregation pipelines, not in simple find queries.

Summary

$eq checks if two values are equal.

$gt checks if the first value is greater than the second.

Use them inside aggregation to compare fields or values and create conditions.

Practice

1. What does the $eq operator do in a MongoDB aggregation pipeline?

easy

A. Checks if one value is greater than another

B. Sorts documents in ascending order

C. Checks if two values are equal

D. Filters documents by existence of a field

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of $eq

   The $eq operator compares two values to see if they are exactly the same.

2. Step 2: Compare with other operators

   Unlike $gt which checks if one value is greater, $eq checks equality.

3. Final Answer:

   Checks if two values are equal -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   $eq means equal [OK]

Hint: Remember: eq means equal, gt means greater [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing $eq with $gt
• Thinking $eq sorts data
• Using $eq to check field existence

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use $gt in a MongoDB aggregation $match stage to find documents where age is greater than 30?

easy

A. { $match: { $gt: { age: 30 } } }

B. { $match: { age: { $gt: 30 } } }

C. { $match: { age: $gt(30) } }

D. { $match: { age: { gt: 30 } } }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct operator syntax

   MongoDB operators like $gt are used as keys inside an object with the field name as the key.

2. Step 2: Match correct structure

   The correct syntax is { field: { $gt: value } }, so { age: { $gt: 30 } } is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   { $match: { age: { $gt: 30 } } } -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct operator syntax = { $match: { age: { $gt: 30 } } } [OK]

Hint: Operators go inside field object with $ prefix [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing $gt outside the field object
• Using parentheses like a function
• Missing $ before gt

3. Given the aggregation pipeline stage:

{ $match: { score: { $gt: 80 } } }

Which documents will be matched if the collection has documents with scores: 75, 80, 85, 90?

medium

A. Documents with scores 75, 85, and 90

B. Documents with scores 75 and 80

C. Documents with scores 80, 85, and 90

D. Documents with scores 85 and 90

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand $gt meaning

   The $gt operator matches values strictly greater than the given number, here 80.

2. Step 2: Check which scores are greater than 80

   Scores 85 and 90 are greater than 80; 75 and 80 are not.

3. Final Answer:

   Documents with scores 85 and 90 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Only scores > 80 match = Documents with scores 85 and 90 [OK]

Hint: Remember $gt excludes equal values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including values equal to 80
• Confusing $gt with $gte
• Selecting lower values by mistake

4. Identify the error in this aggregation $match stage:

{ $match: { $eq: ["$status", "active"] } }

medium

A. Incorrect use of $eq outside a field key

B. Missing $gt operator

C. Wrong array syntax for $eq

D. No error, syntax is correct

Solution

1. Step 1: Check $eq usage in $match

   The $eq operator is usually used inside $expr or aggregation expressions, not directly as a key in $match.

2. Step 2: Understand correct placement

   To compare fields with $eq, it must be inside $expr, like { $match: { $expr: { $eq: ["$status", "active"] } } }.

3. Final Answer:

   Incorrect use of $eq outside a field key -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   $eq needs $expr for expressions [OK]

Hint: Use $expr to compare fields with $eq [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using $eq directly in $match without $expr
• Confusing $eq array syntax
• Assuming $eq works like a filter key

5. You want to filter documents where price is greater than 100 and category equals "electronics" using aggregation. Which $match stage correctly uses $gt and $eq together?

hard

A. { $match: { price: { $gt: 100 }, category: "electronics" } }

B. { $match: { $and: [ { price: { $gt: 100 } }, { category: { eq: "electronics" } } ] } }

C. { $match: { price: { $gt: 100 }, category: { eq: "electronics" } } }

D. { $match: { $expr: { $and: [ { gt: ["$price", 100] }, { eq: ["$category", "electronics"] } ] } } }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand simple field comparisons

   For simple equality, you can directly write category: "electronics" without using $eq.

2. Step 2: Combine conditions in $match

   MongoDB $match supports multiple field conditions combined with AND by default, so { price: { $gt: 100 }, category: "electronics" } works.

3. Step 3: Check other options

   { $match: { price: { $gt: 100 }, category: { $eq: "electronics" } } } misuses $eq inside $match (not needed). { $match: { $and: [ { price: { $gt: 100 } }, { category: { $eq: "electronics" } } ] } } uses $and unnecessarily. { $match: { $expr: { $and: [ { $gt: ["$price", 100] }, { $eq: ["$category", "electronics"] } ] } } } uses $expr which is more complex than needed.

4. Final Answer:

   { $match: { price: { $gt: 100 }, category: "electronics" } } -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Simple conditions combine directly in $match [OK]

Hint: Use direct equality for fields, $gt for ranges [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Overusing $eq inside $match
• Using $and unnecessarily
• Using $expr when not needed