Connecting MongoDB Atlas to a PHP Application

MongoDB Atlas is a fully managed cloud database developed by the same team that builds MongoDB. If you're building a PHP application and want to harness the power of a scalable, flexible NoSQL database, MongoDB Atlas is a top choice. In this article, we'll walk through how to connect a PHP application to MongoDB Atlas, step-by-step.

Why Use MongoDB Atlas with PHP?

Before diving into the connection process, here are a few benefits of using MongoDB Atlas with PHP:

Fully managed database: Automatic backups, monitoring, scaling, and security.
Global cloud infrastructure: Deploy your database in the region closest to your users.
Flexible schema: Store and manage diverse data types without rigid schema constraints.
Native PHP support: The official MongoDB PHP driver ensures smooth integration.

Prerequisites

To follow this guide, you’ll need:

A MongoDB Atlas account
PHP 7.1 or higher installed on your system
Composer installed for dependency management

Step 1: Set Up a Cluster on MongoDB Atlas

Sign in to your MongoDB Atlas account.
Click “Build a Cluster”.
Choose your cloud provider and region.
Select the cluster tier (the free tier is sufficient for testing).
Click Create Cluster.

Once your cluster is ready:

Create a database user with a strong password.
Whitelist your IP address under Network Access.
Navigate to Database > Connect > Connect your application, and copy the connection string.

Example connection string:

mongodb+srv://<username>:<password>@cluster0.mongodb.net/<dbname>?retryWrites=true&w=majority

Step 2: Install the MongoDB PHP Library

Use Composer to install the official MongoDB PHP library:

composer require mongodb/mongodb

Also, make sure the MongoDB PHP extension is installed:

sudo pecl install mongodb

Add the following line to your php.ini:

extension=mongodb.so

Step 3: Connect to MongoDB Atlas in PHP

Create a file called connect.php and use the following code:

<?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';

$uri = "mongodb+srv://<username>:<password>@cluster0.mongodb.net/?retryWrites=true&w=majority";
$client = new MongoDB\Client($uri);
$db = $client->selectDatabase('your_database_name');
$collection = $db->selectCollection('your_collection_name');
$result = $collection->find();

foreach ($result as $entry) {
    print_r($entry);
}
?>

Replace <username>, <password>, your_database_name, and your_collection_name with your actual credentials.

Step 4: Test Your Connection

Run the script using:

php connect.php

If everything is set up correctly, you should see documents from your MongoDB Atlas collection printed on the screen.

Common Troubleshooting Tips

Authentication Errors: Double-check your username/password and make sure special characters in the password are URL-encoded.
Network Access Denied: Ensure your current IP is whitelisted in the Atlas dashboard.
Driver Not Installed: Ensure the mongodb extension is correctly installed and enabled in php.ini.

Conclusion

Connecting MongoDB Atlas to a PHP application is straightforward with the right tools. By leveraging the official MongoDB PHP driver and Composer, you can quickly set up and interact with your cloud database. This setup empowers you to scale and manage data with ease while building modern PHP web applications.

Happy coding!