Infinity | r e a l - p r o g r a m m e r

One important first step is to observe the documents as they get written into MongoDB when storing the test documents from the previous post (https://realprogrammer.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/mongodb-and-node-js-part-1-list-of-documents-for-all-types/). This establishes the base approach of transferring documents defined in JavaScript to documents required as BSON structures.

Type Systems Impedance Mismatch

There is a mismatch in type systems: JavaScript and BSON have some types in common, but not all. Because of this impedance mismatch there must be a mechanism that overcomes it. The following listing discusses those.

Insertion Log Examination

First of all, the JavaScript code of the previous blog drops the target collection and the logging states the outcome:

Drop Collection Result: true

Next, for each document in the previous blog, we show here what the document looks like when written to MongoDB and add a discussion as needed. This can be very boring to read as it is an account of an actual execution; however, please search for specific types if you are only interested in those.

BSON Double

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Double(123.123),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Double(123.123)",
 "btype": 1}

Written As:

[ { x: { _bsontype: 'Double', value: 123.123 },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Double(123.123)',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000001 } ]

Comment: There are a few items that require discussion. First, a property “_id” was added by MongoDB. This is the case for all subsequent documents also.

Second, the constructor call “new MongoDB.Double()” was translated into an object that has a property “_bsontype” and a “value”. The “_bsontype” contains the textual specification of the BSON type at hand, and the value contains the value as it was provided to the constructor. This shows that there is no direct translation from a BSON Double to a JavaScript type.

JavaScript Number

Definition:

{"x": 456.456,
 "comment": "456.456",
 "btype": 1}

Written As:

[ { x: 456.456,
    comment: '456.456',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000002 } ]

Comment: This is a direct translation from JavaScript to BSON as no constructor was involved.

JavaScript String

Definition:

{"x": "abc",
 "comment": "abc",
 "btype": 2}

Written As:

[ { x: 'abc',
    comment: 'abc',
    btype: 2,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000003 } ]

Comment: This is also a direct translation from JavaScript to BSON.

JavaScript Object

Definition:

{"x": {"z": 5},
 "comment": "{\"z\": 5}",
 "btype": 3}

Written As:

[ { x: { z: 5 },
    comment: '{"z": 5}',
    btype: 3,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000004 } ]

Comment: Objects in JavaScript are directly translated into BSON.

JavaScript Array

Definition:

{"x": [9, 8, 7],
 "comment": "[9, 8, 7]",
 "btype": 16}

Written As:

[ { x: [ 9, 8, 7 ],
    comment: '[9, 8, 7]',
    btype: 16,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000005 } ]

Comment: Arrays are translated directly into BSON also.

Definition:

{"x": [
        {"y": 4},
        {"z": 5}
      ], 
 "comment": "[{\"y\": 4}, {\"z\": 5}]",
 "btype": 3}

Written As:

[ { x: [ [Object], [Object] ],
    comment: '[{"y": 4}, {"z": 5}]',
    btype: 3,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000006 } ]

Comment: Again, an array directly translated.

BSON Binary

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Binary("binary"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Binary(\"binary\")",
 "btype": 5}

Written As:

[ { x:
    { _bsontype: 'Binary',
      sub_type: 0,
      position: 6,
      buffer: <Buffer 62 69 6e 61 72 79> },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Binary("binary")',
    btype: 5,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000007 } ]

Comment: Binary data types are created with a constructor before being passed on to MongoDB.

BSON ObjectId

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.ObjectID("5040dc5d40b67c681d000001"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.ObjectID(\"5040dc5d40b67c681d000001\")",
 "btype": 7}

Written As:

[ { x: 5040dc5d40b67c681d000001,
    comment: 'new MongoDB.ObjectID("5040dc5d40b67c681d000001")',
    btype: 7,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000008 } ]

Comment: Even though a constructor is given, the object written is not marked with “_bsontype”.

JavaScript Boolean

Definition:

{"x": false,
 "comment": "false",
 "btype": 8}

Written As:

[ { x: false,
    comment: 'false',
    btype: 8,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000009 } ]

Comment: The Boolean gets translated directly.

Definition:

{"x": true,
 "comment": "true",
 "btype": 8}

Written As:

[ { x: true,
    comment: 'true',
    btype: 8,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700000a } ]

Comment: The Boolean gets translated directly.

JavaScript Date

Definition:

{"x": new Date("2012-08-31 12:13:14:156 UTC"),
 "comment": "new Date(\"2012-08-31 12:13:14:156 UTC\")",
 "btype": 9}

Written As:

[ { x: Fri Aug 31 2012 05:13:14 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time),
    comment: 'new Date("2012-08-31 12:13:14:156 UTC")',
    btype: 9,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700000b } ]

Comment: Written as Date-formatted text.

JavaScript Null

Definition:

{"x": null,
 "comment": "null",
 "btype": 10}

Written As:

[ { x: null,
    comment: 'null',
    btype: 10,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700000c } ]

Comment: “null” is directly written.

JavaScript Regular Expression

Definition:

{"x": new RegExp("abc"),
 "comment": "new RegExp(\"abc\")",
 "btype": 11}

Written As:

[ { x: /abc/,
    comment: 'new RegExp("abc")',
    btype: 11,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700000d } ]

Comment: The regular expression is written as regular expression text.

Definition:

{"x": new RegExp("abc", "i"),
 "comment": "new RegExp(\"abc\", \"i\")",
 "btype": 11}

Written As:

[ { x: /abc/i,
    comment: 'new RegExp("abc", "i")',
    btype: 11,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700000e } ]

Comment: The regular expression is written as regular expression text.

BSON DBRef

There are various ways of defining a BSON DBRef. All possibilities are discussed next.

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.DBRef("types_node", "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001", "types"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.DBRef(\"types_node\", \"5040dc5d40b67c681d000001\", \"types\")",
 "btype": 3}

Written As:

[ { x:
    { _bsontype: 'DBRef',
      namespace: 'types_node',
      oid: '5040dc5d40b67c681d000001',
      db: 'types' },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.DBRef("types_node", "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001", "types")',
    btype: 3,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700000f } ]

Comment: In this case the constructor creates a complete object, including “_bsontype”.

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.DBRef("types_node", "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.DBRef(\"types_node\", \"5040dc5d40b67c681d000001\")",
 "btype": 3}

Written As:

[ { x:
    { _bsontype: 'DBRef',
      namespace: 'types_node',
      oid: '5040dc5d40b67c681d000001',
      db: undefined },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.DBRef("types_node", "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001")',
    btype: 3,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000010 } ]

Comment: This is like the case before, except, the database is not defined.

Definition:

{"x": {"$ref": "types_node", "$id": "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001", "$db": "types"},
 "comment": "{\"$ref\": \"types_node\", \"$id\": \"5040dc5d40b67c681d000001\", \"$db\": \"types\"}",
 "btype": 3}

Written As:

[ { x: { '$ref': 'types_node', '$id': '5040dc5d40b67c681d000001' },
    comment: '{"$ref": "types_node", "$id": "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001", "$db": "types"}',
    btype: 3,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000012 } ]

Comment: This is an alternative way to create a DBRef object in MongoDB. Instead of using the constructor, a document can be directly defined, however, the property names have to match precisely what MongoDB is expecting.

Definition:

{"x": {"$ref": "types_node", "$id": "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001"},
 "comment": "{\"$ref\": \"types_node\", \"$id\": \"5040dc5d40b67c681d000001\"}",
 "btype": 3}

Written As:

[ { x:
    { '$ref': 'types_node', '$id': '5040dc5d40b67c681d000001', '$db': 'types' },
    comment: '{"$ref": "types_node", "$id": "5040dc5d40b67c681d000001"}',
    btype: 3,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000011 } ]

Comment: Like before, this is a direct way to store a DBRef, this time with a database specification.

BSON Code

BSON code comes in two forms, with and without scope. Both are discussed next.

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Code("function () {}"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Code(\"function () {}\")",
 "btype": 13}

Written As:

[ { x: { _bsontype: 'Code', code: 'function () {}', scope: {} },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Code("function () {}")',
    btype: 13,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000013 } ]

Comment: Code is created as an object with a constructor, hence the “_bsontype” property.

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Code("function (a) {}", {"a": 4}),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Code(\"function (a) {}\", {\"a\": 4})",
 "btype": 15}

Written As:

[ { x: { _bsontype: 'Code', code: 'function (a) {}', scope: [Object] },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Code("function (a) {}", {"a": 4})',
    btype: 15,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000015 } ]

Comment: This case is basically the same as the code without scope.

BSON Symbol

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Symbol("def15"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Symbol(\"def15\")",
 "btype": 14}

Written As:

[ { x: def15,
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Symbol("def15")',
    btype: 14,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000014 } ]

Comment: BSON Symbol is created as object by a constructor. However, it does not have a “_bsontype” as the value of a symbol is converted into a string.

BSON 32-Bit Int

Definition:

{"x": 123456,
 "comment": "123456",
 "btype": 16}

Written As:

[ { x: 123456,
    comment: '123456',
    btype: 16,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000016 } ]

Comment: A BSON 32-bit int does not require a constructor and maps directly to the corresponding JSON type.

BSON Timestamp

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Timestamp(1, 2),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Timestamp(1, 2)",
 "btype": 17}

Written As:

[ { x: { _bsontype: 'Timestamp', low_: 1, high_: 2 },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Timestamp(1, 2)',
    btype: 17,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000017 } ]

Comment: A BSON Timestamp is created by a constructor as an object. It hence has the “_bsontype” property.

BSON Long

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.Long("987"),
 "comment": "new MongoDB.Long(\"987\")",
 "btype": 18}

Written As:

[ { x: { _bsontype: 'Long', low_: 987, high_: 0 },
    comment: 'new MongoDB.Long("987")',
    btype: 18,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000018 } ]

Comment: The BSON Long type is created as object by a constructor and has the “_bsontype” property.

BSON MinKey and MaxKey

Definition:

{"x": new MongoDB.MinKey(),
 "comment": "MongoDB.MinKey()",
 "btype": 255}
{"x": new MongoDB.MaxKey(),
 "comment": "MongoDB.MaxKey()",
 "btype": 127}

Written As:

[ { x: { _bsontype: 'MinKey' },
    comment: 'MongoDB.MinKey()',
    btype: 255,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000019 } ]
[ { x: { _bsontype: 'MaxKey' },
    comment: 'MongoDB.MaxKey()',
    btype: 127,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700001a } ]

Comment: Both, BSON MinKey and MaxKey are created by a constructor as object and have the property “_bsontype”.

JavaScript undefined

Definition:

 {"x": undefined,
  "comment": "undefined",
  "btype": 10}

Written As:

[ { x: undefined,
    comment: 'undefined',
    btype: 10,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700001b } ]

Comment: The JavaScript ‘undefined’ is directly stored.

JavaScript Number.NaN

Definition:

{"x": Number.NaN,
 "comment": "Number.NaN",
 "btype": 1}

Written As:

[ { x: NaN,
    comment: 'Number.NaN',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700001c } ]

Comment: JavaScript Number.NaN is written as NaN.

JavaScript Infinity, Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY and Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY

Definition:

{"x": Infinity,
 "comment": "Infinity",
 "btype": 1}
{"x": Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY,
 "comment": "Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY",
 "btype": 1}
{"x": Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY,
 "comment": "Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY",
 "btype": 1}

Written As:

[ { x: Infinity,
    comment: 'Infinity',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700001d } ]
[ { x: Infinity,
    comment: 'Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700001e } ]
[ { x: -Infinity,
    comment: 'Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d42700001f } ]

Comment: JavaScript Infinity is stored as such. Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY is stored as Infinity and Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY is stored as -Infinity.

JavaScript Number.MIN_VALUE and Number.MAX_VALUE

Definition:

{"x": Number.MIN_VALUE,
 "comment": "Number.MIN_VALUE",
 "btype": 1}
{"x": Number.MAX_VALUE,
 "comment": "Number.MAX_VALUE",
 "btype": 1}

Written As:

[ { x: 5e-324,
    comment: 'Number.MIN_VALUE',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000020 } ]
[ { x: 1.7976931348623157e+308,
    comment: 'Number.MAX_VALUE',
    btype: 1,
    _id: 512675b5508942d427000021 } ]

Comment: Number.MIN_VALUE and Number.MAX_VALUE are stored as MIN_VALUE and MAX_VALUE respectively.

Summary

This was a very ‘dry’ blog. Nevertheless, when dealing with a database interface, it is important to ensure the proper understanding of how datatypes in the involved type systems map to each other.

It will become extremely relevant when data stored is queried back. A few surprises are waiting for you.

r e a l – p r o g r a m m e r

http://www.real-programmer.com

Tag Archives: Infinity

MongoDB and node.js (Part 2): Insertion Log Examination

Type Systems Impedance Mismatch

Insertion Log Examination

BSON Double

JavaScript Number

JavaScript String

JavaScript Object

JavaScript Array

BSON Binary

BSON ObjectId

JavaScript Boolean

JavaScript Date

JavaScript Null

JavaScript Regular Expression

BSON DBRef

BSON Code

BSON Symbol

BSON 32-Bit Int

BSON Timestamp

BSON Long

BSON MinKey and MaxKey

JavaScript undefined

JavaScript Number.NaN

JavaScript Infinity, Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY and Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY

JavaScript Number.MIN_VALUE and Number.MAX_VALUE

Summary