Running Raw/Direct/Native MongoDB Queries Through Mongoose.js

Sometimes it may be necessary (particular when modifying a schema), to bypass mongoose schema constraints and access a mongoose database through the native mongodb driver.

Generally, this is as simple as accessing Model.collection 

However, there is a caveat when running find() queries. All native driver documentation suggests that Model.collection.find({}) should return a cursor, but this is not the case with Mongoose.

Running Model.collection.find({}).toArray(function(err, data){}) will throw an error

TypeError: Cannot call method 'toArray' of undefined

because find() will return undefined

Instead, you must pass a callback to find() which accepts the cursor as the second argument. Here is an example:

Model.collection.find({}, function(err, cursor) {

cursor.toArray(function(err, data){

// process data array

})

})