Step-by-Step: Installing and Running MongoDB - Full Tutorial

MongoDB is a high-performance, schema-free, NoSQL database designed for cloud computing. It's easy to install, configure and run, and it promises to make your application's data layer scalable, efficient, and easy to manage. This article will guide you step-by-step on how to install and run MongoDB on your machine.

First, let's understand what MongoDB is all about. MongoDB is a document database with the scalability and flexibility you want and the querying and indexing that you need. Its strength lies in the ability to model data in a way that is natural to think about, and yet still enjoy the powerful features one would expect from a relational database.

Installing MongoDB

Before we can run MongoDB on our local machine, we first need to install it. There are different methods to install MongoDB, depending on your operating system. For simplicity, let's assume you are installing it on a Windows operating system.

Step 1. Download MongoDB

To get started, download the latest release of MongoDB from the official MongoDB website. Make sure you pick the version that matches your operating system and system type (32 bit or 64 bit).

Step 2. Install MongoDB

After downloading MongoDB, open the downloaded file and follow the instructions in the installation wizard. We recommend using the default settings for installation.

Step 3. Set Environment Variables

After the installation, it's essential to set environment variables. Go to the ‘Environment Variables’ section in the System Properties and add a new user variable. Name the variable as ‘Path’ and in variable value, paste the bin folder of the MongoDB installation.

This step allows us to run MongoDB from the command line without navigating to the MongoDB directory.

Running MongoDB

After the installation, it's time to start running MongoDB. Follow the steps below to get MongoDB up and running on your local machine.

Step 1. Create the Data Directory

By default, MongoDB wants to store data in the /data/db directory. You can create this directory using the command prompt. Type ```md /data/db``` and hit enter.

Step 2. Start the MongoDB Server

Once the directory is set, we can start the MongoDB server. Navigate to the MongoDB directory in command prompt and type ```mongod```.

Step 3. Connect to MongoDB

With MongoDB server running, we can now connect to the database. Open another command prompt and type ```mongo```. This will connect your MongoDB shell to the server.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and running MongoDB on your machine. Now you can start creating databases, and collections and perform CRUD operations with MongoDB.

In conclusion, MongoDB is a powerful tool for managing your application's data. It is a robust and flexible database that is easy to install and run. I hope this article has given you a clear understanding of how to get started with MongoDB.

Remember, MongoDB is not only used for the application development but also in big data, content management, mobile and social infrastructure, user data management etc. So, mastering MongoDB can be beneficial in many ways.

Welcome to the world of MongoDB.

Conclusion

This in-depth tutorial should provide you with all the necessary information to get MongoDB up and running on your machine. From installation to connection, we've covered it all. With this newfound knowledge, you're now fully equipped to begin your journey with MongoDB and experience all the benefits it has to offer. Happy coding!