Profiler for slow queries in MongoDB

Introduction

The profiler helps find slow database queries so you can make your app faster.

When your app feels slow and you want to see which database queries take the most time.

When you want to check if a new feature causes slow database access.

When you want to improve database performance by fixing slow queries.

When you want to monitor database activity during peak hours.

When you want to learn how your database is used in real time.

Syntax

MongoDB

db.setProfilingLevel(level, { slowms: milliseconds })

// To check current profiling level and slowms
db.getProfilingStatus()

// To see slow queries recorded
db.system.profile.find({ millis: { $gt: threshold } })

level can be 0 (off), 1 (slow queries), or 2 (all queries).

slowms sets the threshold in milliseconds to consider a query slow.

Examples

Turn on profiling for queries slower than 100 milliseconds.

MongoDB

db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: 100 })

Turn off profiling to stop recording queries.

MongoDB

db.setProfilingLevel(0)

Check current profiling level and slow query threshold.

MongoDB

db.getProfilingStatus()

Find and list queries that took more than 200 milliseconds, sorted by slowest first.

MongoDB

db.system.profile.find({ millis: { $gt: 200 } }).sort({ millis: -1 })

Sample Program

This example turns on profiling for queries slower than 50 ms, runs a query, then fetches slow queries from the profiler.

MongoDB

db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: 50 })

// Run a sample slow query
db.orders.find({ price: { $gt: 1000 } }).toArray()

// Check slow queries recorded
const slowQueries = db.system.profile.find({ millis: { $gt: 50 } }).sort({ millis: -1 }).toArray()
slowQueries

Important Notes

Profiling can slow down your database, so use it only when needed.

Remember to turn off profiling (level 0) after you finish to avoid extra load.

The profiler stores data in the system.profile collection inside your database.

Summary

The profiler helps find slow queries by recording them.

Set profiling level and slowms threshold to control what is recorded.

Check system.profile collection to see slow queries and improve performance.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the MongoDB profiler when set to capture slow queries?

easy

A. To increase the speed of all queries by caching results

B. To record queries that take longer than a specified time to help optimize performance

C. To delete slow queries from the database

D. To automatically fix slow queries without user intervention

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand profiler's role

   The profiler records queries that exceed a time threshold to help identify slow operations.

2. Step 2: Identify what profiler does not do

   It does not fix or delete queries automatically; it only logs them for review.

3. Final Answer:

   To record queries that take longer than a specified time to help optimize performance -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Profiler logs slow queries = To record queries that take longer than a specified time to help optimize performance [OK]

Hint: Profiler logs slow queries for review, not automatic fixes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking profiler fixes queries automatically
• Confusing profiler with query caching
• Assuming profiler deletes slow queries

2. Which command correctly sets the MongoDB profiler to log all queries slower than 100 milliseconds?

easy

A. db.setProfilingLevel(2, { slowms: 100 })

B. db.setProfilingLevel(0, { slowms: 100 })

C. db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: 100 })

D. db.setProfilingLevel(1, 100)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall profiling levels

   Level 1 logs slow queries exceeding the slowms threshold.

2. Step 2: Check correct syntax

   The correct syntax uses level and options object with slowms key, so db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: 100 }) is valid.

3. Final Answer:

   db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: 100 }) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Level 1 + slowms option = db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: 100 }) [OK]

Hint: Use level 1 with slowms in options object for slow query logging [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using level 2 to log only slow queries (it logs all queries)
• Passing slowms as second argument without object
• Setting level 0 which disables profiling

3. Given the following profiler query:

db.system.profile.find({ millis: { $gt: 50 } })

What does this query return?

medium

A. All queries that took more than 50 milliseconds

B. All queries that took less than 50 milliseconds

C. All queries that took exactly 50 milliseconds

D. All queries regardless of execution time

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the query filter

   The filter { millis: { $gt: 50 } } selects documents where the millis field is greater than 50.

2. Step 2: Interpret millis field meaning

   Millis records query execution time in milliseconds, so this finds queries slower than 50ms.

3. Final Answer:

   All queries that took more than 50 milliseconds -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Filter $gt 50 means queries > 50ms = All queries that took more than 50 milliseconds [OK]

Hint: $gt means greater than, so queries slower than threshold [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing $gt with $lt (greater than vs less than)
• Thinking it returns queries equal to 50ms
• Assuming it returns all queries

4. You run db.setProfilingLevel(1, { slowms: '100' }) but no slow queries are logged. What is the problem?

medium

A. The profiler only logs queries slower than 1000ms by default

B. Profiling level 1 does not log slow queries

C. You must restart MongoDB after setting profiling level

D. The slowms value should be a number, not a string

Solution

1. Step 1: Check slowms parameter type

   slowms expects a number, but '100' is a string, causing it to ignore the threshold.

2. Step 2: Understand profiling behavior

   Profiling level 1 logs slow queries, no restart needed, and default slowms is 100ms if not set.

3. Final Answer:

   The slowms value should be a number, not a string -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   slowms must be numeric, not string = The slowms value should be a number, not a string [OK]

Hint: Use number type for slowms, not string quotes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing slowms as string instead of number
• Thinking profiling level 1 disables logging
• Believing MongoDB needs restart after setting profiler

5. You want to find the top 3 slowest queries recorded by the profiler. Which query will correctly return these?

hard

A. db.system.profile.find().sort({ millis: -1 }).limit(3)

B. db.system.profile.find().sort({ millis: 1 }).limit(3)

C. db.system.profile.find({ millis: { $lt: 3 } })

D. db.system.profile.find().limit(3)

Solution

1. Step 1: Sort queries by execution time descending

   Sorting by millis: -1 orders queries from slowest to fastest.

2. Step 2: Limit results to top 3

   Using limit(3) returns only the first three documents after sorting.

3. Final Answer:

   db.system.profile.find().sort({ millis: -1 }).limit(3) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Sort descending + limit 3 = db.system.profile.find().sort({ millis: -1 }).limit(3) [OK]

Hint: Sort by millis descending, then limit 3 for slowest queries [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Sorting millis ascending returns fastest queries
• Filtering millis less than 3 returns wrong data
• Not sorting before limiting results