Mongoose findByIdAndDelete() function (with examples)

The findByIdAndDelete() function is a part of Mongoose, an Object Data Modeling (ODM) library for MongoDB and Node.js which provides a higher level of abstraction than the native driver. This function was introduced as a shorthand for finding a document by its ID and then removing it from the collection.

The main purpose of findByIdAndDelete() is to provide a simple and straightforward way to delete a document based on its unique identifier (_id). It combines the functionality of finding a document and deleting it into a single operation, simplifying the code required to accomplish this common task.

Syntax and Parameters

Model.findByIdAndDelete(id, [options], [callback])

• id: the unique ID of the document you wish to delete.
• options: optional settings for the query. For example, setting { new: true } will return the document as it was before deletion.
• callback: an optional function to run once the operation is complete. If not provided, the function will return a promise.

The function returns a promise resolving to the deleted document, or the value returned is according to the options specified, if any.

Examples

Basic Deletion Example

Deleting a document by its ID:

import mongoose from 'mongoose';
const { Schema } = mongoose;

const itemSchema = new Schema({ name: String });
const Item = mongoose.model('Item', itemSchema);

async function deleteItem(id) {
  try {
    const deletedItem = await Item.findByIdAndDelete(id);
    console.log('Deleted item:', deletedItem);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error deleting item:', error);
  }
}

Option Use Example

Using options with findByIdAndDelete:

async function deleteItemWithOptions(id) {
  try {
    const deletedItem = await Item.findByIdAndDelete(id, { new: true });
    if (deletedItem) {
      console.log('Document to be deleted:', deletedItem);
    } else {
      console.log('No document found with that id.');
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error:', error);
  }
}

Conclusion

Mongoose’s findByIdAndDelete() function is an efficient and concise way to remove documents by their ID in Node.js applications. It reduces the complexity of code, and properly handling the returned promise brings clarity and better error management to your application logic. Reliable deletion operations are critical in maintaining data integrity, and through the use of this Mongoose feature, developers have a powerful tool in their arsenal for managing MongoDB collections.