mongoc_read_prefs_t

A read preference abstraction

Synopsis

mongoc_read_prefs_t provides an abstraction on top of the MongoDB connection read prefences. It allows for hinting to the driver which nodes in a replica set should be accessed first.

You can specify a read preference mode on connection objects, database objects, collection objects, or per-operation. Generally, it makes the most sense to stick with *READ_PRIMARY*. All of the other modes come with caveats that won't be covered in great detail here.

Read Modes

MONGOC_READ_PRIMARY

Default mode. All operations read from the current replica set primary.

MONGOC_READ_SECONDARY

All operations read from the secondary members of the replica set.

MONGOC_READ_PRIMARY_PREFERRED

In most situations, operations read from the primary but if it is unavailable, operations read from secondary members.

MONGOC_READ_SECONDARY_PREFERRED

In most situations, operations read from secondary members but if no secondary members are available, operations read from the primary.

MONGOC_READ_NEAREST

Operations read from the nearest member of the replica set, irrespective of the member’s type.

Tag Sets

Tag sets allow you to specify custom read preferences and write concerns so that your application can target operations to specific members.

Custom read preferences and write concerns evaluate tags sets in different ways: read preferences consider the value of a tag when selecting a member to read from. while write concerns ignore the value of a tag to when selecting a member except to consider whether or not the value is unique.

You can specify tag sets with the following read preference modes:

  • primaryPreferred

  • secondary

  • secondaryPreferred

  • nearest

Tags are not compatible with primary and, in general, only apply when selecting a secondary member of a set for a read operation. However, the nearest read mode, when combined with a tag set will select the nearest member that matches the specified tag set, which may be a primary or secondary.

All interfaces use the same member selection logic to choose the member to which to direct read operations, basing the choice on read preference mode and tag sets.