In this article, you will learn how to install MongoDB Compass on Mac OS. You will just have to follow the following six simple and easy steps in order to install MongoDB Compass on Mac OS. Before installing MongoDB compass on Mac OS let’s just look at the system requirements first. If these requirements are met then you can easily install MongoDB Compass on your Mac OS. So, read along to know more about MongoDB Compass and how you can easily do MongoDB Compass Mac installation.

Prerequisites

To successfully install MongoDB Compass Mac, make sure you meet the following requirements:

  • MacOS 10.12 or later in 64-bit mode is required.
  • MongoDB 3.6 or later is required.

Before we get started with the MongoDB Compass Mac OS installation, let’s take a look at what MongoDB Compass is all about.

What is MongoDB Compass?

MongoDB Compass Mac - MongoDB Compass Logo

MongoDB is an open-source document-oriented database that is the most popular NoSQL database. ‘NoSQL’ stands for ‘non-relational’. It indicates that MongoDB isn’t built on the table-like structure of relational databases, but instead uses a completely different technique for data storing and retrieval. BSON is the name of the storage format (similar to JSON format).

The MongoDB Compass graphical user interface allows you to interact with the MongoDB database management system. It’s useful because it doesn’t necessitate prior knowledge of MongoDB query syntax. However, MongoDB Compass may be used for more than just displaying data; it can also be used for query optimization, index management, and document validation.

MongoDB Compass is available in 4 different editions:

  • Compass Community: This edition is designed for MongoDB development and contains a subset of the tool’s features.
  • Compass: MongoDB Compass in its entirety, including all features and capabilities. Subscriptions are required to use the app.
  • Readonly Compass: All write and delete features have been disabled from this version, making it purely a read-only edition.
  • Isolated Compass: Except for the MongoDB server to which Compass connects, this version makes no network requests. This edition is intended for use in high-security environments.

Editions’ Capabilities

  • With complete CRUD capability, interact with documents, collections, and databases.
  • Create and run aggregation pipelines and queries.
  • Indexes can be created and deleted.
  • Visual explanation plans allow you to see and optimize query performance.
  • Authentication with Kerberos, LDAP, and x.509.
  • Analysis of the Schema.
  • Server Statistics in Real-Time.
  • Validation rules for documents can be created, deleted, and edited.
  • Collection of errors and crash reporting.

Key Features of MongoDB Compass

1) Flexible Document Schemas

MongoDB’s document model makes it simple to model and manipulate nearly any type of data structure. MongoDB’s BSON data format, which is based on JSON, allows you to have objects with multiple sets of fields in the same collection.

MongoDB allows you to create specific schemas and validate data to keep things under control, but its flexibility is invaluable when dealing with real-world data and dealing with changes in needs or environment.

2) Code-Native Data Access

To get data into Object form for usage in programs, most databases require the use of heavy wrappers such as ORMs (Object Relational Mappers). MongoDB’s decision to store and represent data in a document format implies that you may access it in any language, using native data structures such as Python dictionaries, Java Maps, etc.

3) Customize-Friendly Design

If you’re used to wanting to take your site or app offline in an attempt to change the format of your data, MongoDB is built to change.

MongoDB puts a lot of effort into building efficient methods and learning from our failures, but the database is usually the constraint. Changing schemas doesn’t require any downtime, and you can begin adding new data to MongoDB at any time without interrupting its processes.

4) Powerful Querying & Analytics

How useful is data if you can’t search for information in it? MongoDB is created to make data easy to find and rarely requires joins or transactions, but it’s more than capable of handling sophisticated queries.

With just a few lines of JSON-like MQL, you can query deep into documents and even run complicated analytics pipelines.

5) Easy Horizontal Scale-out

MongoDB is a distributed database that was built from the ground up. To maintain performance and scale horizontally, create clusters with real-time replication and shard big or high-throughput collections across many clusters.

Read MongoDB Compass Blog to understand in detail about MongoDB Compass.

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Steps to Set Up MongoDB Compass Mac Installation

In this section, you will learn the key steps to set up your MongoDB Compass Mac installation. Follow the steps below to get started with:

1) MongoDB Compass Mac: Download MongoDB Compass

You can use your favorite web browser to download Compass.

MongoDB Compass Mac - Download Free MongoDB Compass for Mac
  • MongoDB Compass for macOS is available for download. The installer for MongoDB Compass is a.dmg disc image.
MongoDB Compass Mac - Download MongoDB Compass dmg file for Mac OS

2) MongoDB Compass Mac: Install MongoDB Compass on Mac OS

After you have downloaded the MongoDB Compass Mac follow the below steps to install it:

  • To access the disc image in the macOS Finder, double-click the ‘.dmg‘ file.
  • To install MongoDB Compass, drag it to your Applications folder.
MongoDB Compass Mac - Install MongoDB Compass on Mac OS

The disc image should be ejected.

  • To start the application, double-click the Compass icon in the Applications folder.
  • When you first use MongoDB Compass, you may get a message stating that it is an internet program that requires you to confirm that you wish to use it. To proceed and launch Compass, click Open.

Hurray!! You have successfully installed MongoDB Compass Mac on your Mac OS.

Conclusion

Here are the key takeaways from this article:

  1. MongoDB Compass is a user-friendly GUI tool that helps analyze and manipulate data stored in MongoDB collections, making it ideal for users who aren’t familiar with command-line queries.
  2. It offers features like indexing, performance tracking, and building queries and aggregation pipelines, simplifying database management tasks.
  3. MongoDB Compass is available for free on Mac and can be easily downloaded and installed from the official website, with simple steps to follow.
  4. For developers, extracting complex data from various sources (like databases, CRMs, and marketing platforms) for MongoDB can be challenging.
  5. Hevo Data is a no-code data pipeline tool that automates the process of moving data from over 150+ sources into your data warehouse, simplifying data integration without the need for coding.

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Share your experience with MongoDB Compass Mac installation in the comments section below!

FAQs

1. Is MongoDB compass available for Mac?

Yes, MongoDB Compass is available for Mac and can be downloaded for free from the official MongoDB website. It provides a simple GUI to analyze and manage MongoDB data without needing command-line queries.

2. How to check MongoDB Compass version in Mac?

To check the MongoDB Compass version on a Mac, open the application, then go to the Compass menu in the top-left corner and select About MongoDB Compass. The version number will be displayed in the pop-up window.

3. Can you use MongoDB on Mac?

Yes, MongoDB can be installed and used on a Mac. You can install it via Homebrew or download the official MongoDB package from their website. Once installed, you can run MongoDB locally and use tools like MongoDB Compass to manage your databases.

4. How to update MongoDB Compass on Mac?

To update MongoDB Compass on a Mac, visit the official MongoDB website to download the latest version. You can also update it via Homebrew by running the command brew upgrade mongodb-compass if you installed it through Homebrew. Simply follow the installation steps to replace the older version.

Muhammad Faraz
Technical Content Writer, Hevo Data

Muhammad Faraz is an AI/ML and MLOps expert with extensive experience in cloud platforms and new technologies. With a Master's degree in Data Science, he excels in data science, machine learning, DevOps, and tech management. As an AI/ML and tech project manager, he leads projects in machine learning and IoT, contributing extensively researched technical content to solve complex problems.