mongo-java-driver
The official MongoDB Java driver provides synchronous and asynchronous database connectivity for Java, Kotlin, and Scala applications. It is actively maintained by MongoDB, widely adopted, and production-ready with Apache 2.0 licensing.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | mongodb/mongo-java-driver |
| Owner | mongodb |
| Primary language | Java |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2.7k |
| Forks | 1.5k |
| Open issues | 33 |
| Latest release | r5.9.0 (2026-07-07) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
| Source | https://github.com/mongodb/mongo-java-driver |
What mongo-java-driver is
A JVM driver offering both sync and async APIs for MongoDB operations, supporting connection pooling, transactions, and modern language features (Kotlin coroutines, Scala). Built on Java 17+ and follows semantic versioning with documented Alpha/Beta/Deprecated API lifecycle.
Get the mongo-java-driver source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/mongodb/mongo-java-driver.gitcd mongo-java-driver# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Minimum Java 17+ required; verify JVM version compatibility before deployment.
- Alpha and Beta APIs are subject to breaking changes; avoid in production libraries or platform code; use only in application code with vendor support awareness.
- Connection pooling and resource management are automatic but must be tuned for workload (connection limits, timeouts) via MongoClient constructor parameters.
- Test suite requires mongod instance with enableTestCommands enabled; set up local MongoDB for integration testing in CI/CD pipelines.
- Semantic versioning is followed; monitor release notes for deprecations and plan upgrades to stay current with security and stability fixes.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Non-JVM platforms required — This is Java/JVM-only; use MongoDB drivers for Node.js, Python, Go, or other runtimes if targeting non-JVM environments.
- No MongoDB involvement acceptable — If organizational policy prohibits vendor-provided drivers or requires community-only dependencies, this official driver may not align with governance rules.
- Experimental/Alpha APIs needed in production — APIs marked @Alpha lack compatibility guarantees and are unsuitable for production; only @Stable or released APIs should be used in production code.
- Minimal overhead required — If extremely lightweight connection handling is required, evaluate alternatives; the official driver carries full feature support and some operational overhead.
License & commercial use
Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0) is a permissive, OSI-approved open-source license. It permits commercial use, modification, and redistribution with appropriate attribution and liability disclaimer.
Commercial use is permitted under Apache 2.0. No license fee is required. However, as this is an official MongoDB driver, review MongoDB's commercial support terms separately if production support or indemnification is needed. The license itself does not provide vendor support or indemnification; those are separate commercial offerings.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Strong |
| Assessment confidence | High |
No specific security vulnerabilities or posture details provided in data. Official MongoDB security vulnerability reporting process documented; report via MongoDB's vulnerability disclosure guidelines. Recommend: verify SSL/TLS support for transport security, apply latest driver patches promptly, use strong authentication (SCRAM, LDAP, etc.) when connecting, and audit connection strings in code before deployment. Internal APIs (com.mongodb.internal.*) are private and subject to change.
Alternatives to consider
Spring Data MongoDB
Higher-level abstraction over the Java driver; use if ORM-like query DSL, Spring integration, or transaction management within Spring Boot is needed.
Quarkus MongoDB driver or Vert.x MongoDB client
Preferred for reactive, event-driven architectures or GraalVM native image targets; lower latency than traditional driver.
MongoDB driver for other languages (Node.js, Python, Go)
Select if targeting non-JVM platforms or polyglot teams where native language drivers provide better idioms.
Build on mongo-java-driver with DEV.co software developers
Get started with the official MongoDB Java driver. Review the full documentation, explore tutorials, and integrate into your Maven/Gradle project today.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
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mongo-java-driver FAQ
Is Alpha API safe for production?
Can I use the driver without MongoDB locally for tests?
What is the difference between mongodb-driver-sync and mongodb-driver-reactive?
How do I report security issues?
Work with a software development agency
Adopting mongo-java-driver is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source databases software in production.
Ready to Connect Your JVM App to MongoDB?
Get started with the official MongoDB Java driver. Review the full documentation, explore tutorials, and integrate into your Maven/Gradle project today.