Optimizing MongoDB Queries with `.executionStats`
As developers, we often focus on writing functional queries, but ensuring they run efficiently is just as important. MongoDB provides a powerful tool—.executionStats—that helps analyze query performance and optimize database operations. Let’s explore how it works and why it’s useful in day-to-day development. What is .executionStats? In MongoDB, .executionStats is a mode in the explain() method that provides in-depth insights into how a query executes. It helps you understand query performance, index usage, and potential optimizations. How to Use .executionStats To analyze a query’s performance, run: db.collection.find(query).explain("executionStats") For example, if you want to check the performance of a query fetching users older than 25: db.users.find({ age: { $gt: 25 } }).explain("executionStats") This will return a detailed JSON output containing various execution metrics. Key Metrics in .executionStats Here are some critical fields to look at: executionSuccess – Indicates whether the query executed successfully. nReturned – Number of documents returned by the query. executionTimeMillis – Total execution time (in milliseconds). totalKeysExamined – Number of index keys examined. totalDocsExamined – Number of documents scanned in the collection. executionStages – Details about how MongoDB executed the query. Why is This Useful for Developers?

As developers, we often focus on writing functional queries, but ensuring they run efficiently is just as important. MongoDB provides a powerful tool—.executionStats
—that helps analyze query performance and optimize database operations. Let’s explore how it works and why it’s useful in day-to-day development.
What is .executionStats
?
In MongoDB, .executionStats
is a mode in the explain()
method that provides in-depth insights into how a query executes. It helps you understand query performance, index usage, and potential optimizations.
How to Use .executionStats
To analyze a query’s performance, run:
db.collection.find(query).explain("executionStats")
For example, if you want to check the performance of a query fetching users older than 25:
db.users.find({ age: { $gt: 25 } }).explain("executionStats")
This will return a detailed JSON output containing various execution metrics.
Key Metrics in .executionStats
Here are some critical fields to look at:
- executionSuccess – Indicates whether the query executed successfully.
- nReturned – Number of documents returned by the query.
- executionTimeMillis – Total execution time (in milliseconds).
- totalKeysExamined – Number of index keys examined.
- totalDocsExamined – Number of documents scanned in the collection.
- executionStages – Details about how MongoDB executed the query.