Mongoose | MongoDB | Default values not populating - mongodb

Question

I am trying to stick pre-populated data into my mongoDB database but the default data isn't getting in there when I send a POST request with the email and password only. Instead, all I'm seeing is an empty array titled 'thisiswhereIwantthetestdata'.
I tried adding default data at the top-level and that worked when I sent a POST request with the email and password only.
Any idea what I am doing wrong? Maybe something to do with the way I refer to [testSchema]?
const mongoose = require('mongoose');
const testSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
test: {
type: String,
default: 'default test'
},
test2: {
type: String,
default: 'default test 2'
}
})
const userSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
email: {
type: String,
unique: true,
required: true
},
password: {
type: String,
required: true
},
thisiswhereIwantthetestdata: [testSchema]
});

Answer 1

You can accomplish this using a pre save hook like this:
User schema:
const mongoose = require("mongoose");
const testSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
test: {
type: String,
default: "default test"
},
test2: {
type: String,
default: "default test 2"
}
});
const userSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
email: {
type: String,
// unique: true,
required: true
},
password: {
type: String,
required: true
},
tests: [
{
type: testSchema,
default: testSchema
}
]
});
userSchema.pre("save", function(next) {
if (this.tests.length == 0) this.tests.push({});
next();
});
module.exports = mongoose.model("User", userSchema);
Sample route to create user:
router.post("/", async (req, res) => {
const result = await User.create(req.body);
res.send(result);
});
When you send a post request to the route with this body:
{
"email": "a#b.net",
"password": "123123"
}
Response will be like this meaning default values worked:
{
"_id": "5de6b94ad440d0337c8fd388",
"email": "a#b.net",
"password": "123123",
"tests": [
{
"test": "default test",
"test2": "default test 2",
"_id": "5de6b94ad440d0337c8fd389"
}
],
"__v": 0
}