Store objects in array using mongodb, node and express - node.js

Question

I'm trying to build a messaging system for my school project. I have created a schema in mongodb that looks like this:
var userSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
firstName: String,
lastName: String,
messages: []
});
I want to store an object in the messages that looks something similar to this:
{
from: 'fromUsername',
to: 'toUsername',
time: new Date(),
msg: 'message is here'
}
I want to be able to store that in the schema under the messages array. Is there a way to push that to the shcema? Not sure how to approach this task. Thanks!

Answer 1

You can define the schemas separately with the message schema embedded as part of the user document (as items within the messages array):
var messageSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
from: String,
to: String,
time: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
msg: String
})
var userSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
firstName: String,
lastName: String,
messages: [messageSchema]
});
mongoose.model('User', userSchema);
To add the given message to the messages array, follow the pattern:
// retrieve user model
var User = mongoose.model('User');
// create user instance
var user = new User({
firstName: 'Alice',
lastName: 'Bob'
});
// create a message
user.messages.push({
from: 'fromUsername',
to: 'toUsername',
msg: 'message is here'
});
You have an option to exclude the time field since you would have defined its default value when you persist your model.
user.save(function (err, user) {
if (!err) console.log(JSON.stringify(user, null, 4));
});

Answer 2

You can use th $push operator to appends your object value in the message array.
An example of how to use $push for your userSchema
// How to update a user already created
var User = mongoose.model('User');
User.update(
{ _id: id },
{ $push: {messages : {
from: 'fromUsername',
to: 'toUsername',
time: new Date(),
msg: 'message is here'}}
})