Docker Compose for MongoDB

Introduction to Docker Compose for MongoDB

Docker Compose is a powerful tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. This guide demonstrates how to use a docker-compose.yml file to easily set up and manage a MongoDB instance along with MongoDB Express, a web-based GUI for MongoDB.

Docker Compose Configuration for MongoDB

Below is a sample docker-compose.yml file that configures two services: a MongoDB database and MongoDB Express for easy management. This setup is ideal for development environments or quick deployments.

---
# https://hub.docker.com/_/mongo
version: '3.1'

services:
  mongo:
    image: mongo
    restart: always
    environment:
      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME: root
      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD: example

  mongo-express:
    image: mongo-express
    restart: always
    ports:
      - 8081:8081
    environment:
      ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_ADMINUSERNAME: root
      ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_ADMINPASSWORD: example
      ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_URL: mongodb://root:example@mongo:27017/

Explanation of Services

MongoDB Service

The mongo service uses the official MongoDB Docker image. It's configured to restart automatically and sets the root username and password for database access. This ensures your MongoDB instance is always available.

MongoDB Express Service

The mongo-express service uses the MongoDB Express image, providing a web interface to interact with your MongoDB database. It maps port 8081 on your host to the container's port 8081, allowing you to access it via your browser. It's configured to use the same root credentials as the MongoDB service and connects to the MongoDB instance using the service name mongo.

Running the Docker Compose Setup

To deploy this setup, save the content above as docker-compose.yml in a directory. Then, navigate to that directory in your terminal and run the command: docker compose up -d. You can then access MongoDB Express at http://localhost:8081.