MongoDB Charts is a new tool for visualizing data stored in MongoDB databases. It allows users to build visualizations without needing to write custom code, move data to another system, or purchase third-party tools. Charts integrates tightly with the MongoDB document model. Key features include common chart types, aggregation functions, filtering, sorting, and support for nested and array data. Users can share charts and dashboards with specific people or make them public. Feedback is welcomed as the product is currently in beta.

1. Bringing Data to Life with
MongoDB Charts
Tom Hollander
Senior Product Manager, MongoDB

2. Agenda
• Why did we build Charts?
• What is Charts?
• Demos!
• Basic workflow
• Charting capabilities
• Document model
• Sharing and permissions
• Installing Charts
• Roadmap

3. Safe Harbor Statement
The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality
described for our products remains at our sole discretion. This
information is merely intended to outline our general product direction
and it should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision nor is
this a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material,
code, or functionality.

4. Options for Visualizing MongoDB Data
Custom Code + Charting
Libraries
ETL + 3rd Party BI Tools BI Connector + 3rd Party
BI Tools

5. Wouldn’t it be nice if...
You could visualize your MongoDB Data…
• without needing to write your own code
• without needing to move your data into a different repository
• without needing to purchase and configure third-party tools
• without losing the richness of the Document Model

6. Introducing MongoDB Charts
The fastest way to build
visualizations over your
MongoDB data
Built for the MongoDB
document model
Visualize live data
From on-prem or Atlas DBs

7. Charts Basic Concepts
• A data source is a reference to a MongoDB collection or view that
contains data you want to visualize.
• A chart is a visualization of data from a single data source.
• A dashboard is a collection of charts which you manage as a unit
(name, layout, sharing)

8. Demo:
Charts Basic Workflow

9. Charting Capabilities
• Common chart types
• Aggregation functions
• Filtering
• Sample Mode
• Binning
• Sorting

10. Demo:
Charting Capabilities

11. Document Model Support
• Type handling
• Polymorphic collections
• Nested documents
• Array reductions

12. Document Model Support: Array Reductions
• Arrays need to be “reduced” before they can be used on a chart
• Supports both arrays of primitive values and arrays of documents
• Also supports arrays of arrays (arbitrary depth)
• Multiple reduction functions, for example:
• Unwind an array into multiple documents
• Array length
• nth element
• Min, max, sum, mean, concat, etc.

13. Demo:
Document Model

14. Sharing and Permissions
• All users log onto Charts with their own account
• Users can be managed by anyone with the UserAdmin role
• Any user can add a data source
• They must have a valid connection URI to connect to the MongoDB instance
• A data source owner can choose to share with nobody, specific people or
everybody
• Any user can add a dashboard
• By default, the dashboard is only visible to the creator
• A dashboard owner can choose to share with nobody, specific people or
everybody

15. Charts Roles: Data Sources
Any User Data Source Reader Data Source Manager Data Source Owner
Add a data source* ✅
Read data from a data
source (for a chart)
✅ ✅ ✅
Modify data source
details (alias,
connection URI)
✅ ✅
Delete a data source ✅
Change permissions for
a data source
✅
* After creating a data source, the user gets the Data Source Owner role on that data source.

16. Charts Roles: Dashboards
Any User Dashboard Viewer Dashboard Author Dashboard Owner
Add a dashboard* ✅
View a dashboard** ✅ ✅ ✅
Add, edit or remove
charts on a dashboard
✅ ✅
Modify dashboard
layout
✅ ✅
Delete a dashboard ✅
Change permissions for
a dashboard
✅
* After creating a dashboard, the user gets the Dashboard Owner role on that dashboard.
** The user can only view individual charts on the dashboard if they also have the Data Source Reader (or higher) role on the
data source used for each chart

17. Charts Roles: Global
User User Admin
Create, view and manage data sources (subject to Data Sources roles) ✅ ✅
Create, view and dashboards (subject to Dashboards roles) ✅ ✅
Change your own password ✅ ✅
Create new users ✅
Modify user details (name, role) ✅
Reset user passwords ✅
Delete users ✅

18. Demo:
Sharing and Permissions

19. Installing Charts
• Charts Beta is now available to download!
• No cost to use the beta
• Download and install instructions @ http://mongodb.com/charts
• Charts runs as a Docker container on a server of your choice
• Supported on any OS that runs Docker CE or EE (Linux, MacOS, Windows)
• Can be a physical server, cloud VM or even a laptop
• Charts requires a MongoDB instance to run
• For storing metadata about users, data sources and dashboards
• Can be any MongoDB instance in your organization (including Atlas)
• Not included in the Charts Docker container

20. Installing Charts
• Installation process:
• Deploy or identify a MongoDB instance for the Charts metadata
• Install Docker on your target server
• Download the Charts Docker Compose file from MongoDB download center
• Create a Docker Secret containing the URI for your MongoDB instance
• Deploy Charts using docker stack deploy
• Create your first Charts user
• Access Charts from a web browser

21. Feature Roadmap
Planned features include:
• SaaS option
• External embedding
• “Big Screen” support
• Data Tables and Numeric visualizations
• Interactive dashboards
• Geospatial
… Tell us what else you want to see!

22. Questions, Feedback, Requests, Bugs?
• Find me or the Charts developers at MongoDB World
• At the Analytics MongoDB booth
• Contact me later
• tom.hollander@mongodb.com
• @tomhollander
• Send us a message from any page in the Charts app