MongoDB Multikey Indexes (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 5 May, 2026

MongoDB Multikey Indexes automatically index array fields to speed up queries on individual elements within arrays, improving performance for datasets with nested or list-based values.

• Automatically indexes array fields and each element within the array.
• Improves query performance for queries targeting elements within array fields.
• Enables efficient lookups on individual values inside arrays.

Create a Multikey Index

When an index is created on an array field, MongoDB generates separate index entries for each array element, enabling efficient equality and membership queries as well as index-supported sorting on array values.

**Syntax:

db.Collection_name.createIndex({field_name: 1/ -1})

Examples of MongoDB Multikey Indexes

In the following example, we are working with:

• **Database: gfg
• **Collections: student
• **Document: Two documents contain the details of the students

Example 1: Index Basic Arrays

Create multi-index with the help of createIndex() method on the field language:

db.student.createIndex({language:1})

**Output:

Check the index using the getIndexes() method:

Example 2: Index Arrays with Embedded Documents

Create a multikey index on an array field that contains nested documents/objects.

db.student.createIndex({"details.age":1, "details.branch":1})

**Output:

Check the index using the getIndexes() method:

Limitations of MongoDB Multikey Indexes

While MongoDB multikey indexes offer significant performance improvements, they come with some limitations and constraints:

• **Compound Multikey Restriction: Only one indexed field per document can be an array in a compound multikey index.
• **Shard Key Limitation: Array fields (multikey indexes) cannot be used as shard keys.
• ****$expr Limitation:** Multikey indexes are not used to support $expr-based queries.
• **Insertion Constraint: Inserts that violate multikey rules (multiple array fields) are rejected.

Important Points of MongoDB Multikey Indexes

Here are some important point discussed:

• Multikey indexes index array fields and their elements to improve query performance on array data.
• Multikey indexes cannot be used as shard key indexes.
• Hashed indexes are not multikey indexes in MongoDB.
• Multikey indexes do not support $expr-based queries.
• When a query matches an entire array value, MongoDB scans the multikey index entries for the array elements to evaluate the match.