Query Modifiers

In addition to the MongoDB Query Operators, there are a number of “meta” operators that let you modify the output or behavior of a query.

Note

Deprecated in the mongo Shell since v3.2
Starting in v3.2, the query “meta” operators are deprecated in the mongo shell. In the mongo shell, use the cursor methods instead.

The driver interfaces may provide cursor methods that wrap these options. When possible, use these methods; otherwise, you can add these options using either of the following syntax:

db.collection.find( { <query> } )._addSpecial( <option> )
db.collection.find( { $query: { <query> }, <option> } )

Operators

Modifiers

Note

Deprecated in the mongo Shell since v3.2
Starting in v3.2, the query “meta” operators are deprecated in the mongo shell. In the mongo shell, use the cursor methods instead.
Name Description
$comment Adds a comment to the query to identify queries in the database profiler output.
$explain Forces MongoDB to report on query execution plans. See explain().
$hint Forces MongoDB to use a specific index. See hint()
$maxScan Limits the number of documents scanned.
$max Specifies an exclusive upper limit for the index to use in a query. See max().
$maxTimeMS Specifies a cumulative time limit in milliseconds for processing operations on a cursor. See maxTimeMS().
$min Specifies an inclusive lower limit for the index to use in a query. See min().
$orderby Returns a cursor with documents sorted according to a sort specification. See sort().
$query Wraps a query document.
$returnKey Forces the cursor to only return fields included in the index.
$showDiskLoc Modifies the documents returned to include references to the on-disk location of each document.

Sort Order

Name Description
$natural A special sort order that orders documents using the order of documents on disk.