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JSON compatibility
You can use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB to interact with data stored in HCL Informix®.
HCL Informix® JSON compatibility
The Informix® JSON Compatibility Guide describes how applications that use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB can interact with data stored in HCL Informix.
About the Informix® JSON compatibility
You can combine relational and JSON data into a single query by using the Informix® JSON compatibility features.
Getting started with Informix® JSON
You can begin using the Informix® JSON features after installing Informix.

JSON compatibility
You can use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB to interact with data stored in HCL Informix®.
- HCL Informix® JSON compatibility
  The Informix® JSON Compatibility Guide describes how applications that use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB can interact with data stored in HCL Informix.
  - About the Informix® JSON compatibility
    You can combine relational and JSON data into a single query by using the Informix® JSON compatibility features.
    - Getting started with Informix® JSON
      You can begin using the Informix® JSON features after installing Informix.
    - Requirements for JSON compatibility
      Informix® JSON compatibility has specific software dependencies and database server requirements.
    - MongoDB to Informix® term mapping
      The commonly used MongoDB terminology and concepts are mapped to the equivalent Informix® terminology and concepts.
    - Support for dots in field names
      Unlike MongoDB, which does not allow dots, ( . ), in JSON or BSON field names, HCL Informix® conforms to the JSON standard and allows dots. For example: {"user.fn" : "Jake"}. However, you cannot run a query or an operation directly on a field that has a dot in its name. In queries, a dot in between field names indicates a hierarchy.
    - Manipulate BSON data with SQL statements
      As an alternative to using the MongoDB API, you can use Informix® SQL to manipulate BSON data. However, if you plan to query JSON and BSON data through the wire listener, you must create your database objects, such as collections and indexes, through the wire listener. You can use SQL statements to query JSON and BSON data whether you created your database objects through the wire listener or with SQL statements.
  - Wire listener
    The wire listener is a mid-tier gateway server that enables communication between MongoDB, REST API, and MQTT clients and the Informix® database server.
  - JSON data sharding
    You can shard data with HCL Informix®. Documents from a collection or rows from a table can be sharded across a cluster of database servers, reducing the number of documents or rows and the size of the index for the database of each server. When you shard data across database servers, you also distribute performance across hardware. As your database grows in size, you can scale up by adding more shard servers to your shard cluster.
  - MongoDB API and commands
    The Informix® support for MongoDB application programming interfaces and commands are described here.
  - REST API
    The REST API provides a method for accessing JSON collections in Informix® and provides driverless access to your data.
  - MQTT protocol
    The MQTT protocol provides a method for loading JSON data in Informix®.
  - Manage time series through the wire listener
    You can create and manage time series through the wire listener. You interact with time series data through a virtual table.
  - Troubleshooting Informix® JSON compatibility
    Several troubleshooting techniques, tools, and resources are available for resolving problems that you encounter with Informix® JSON compatibility.

Getting started with Informix® JSON

You can begin using the Informix® JSON features after installing Informix®.

If you create the Informix® server instance as a part of your installation, the wire listener is automatically started and connected to the MongoDB API and the database server with the default operational instance. You can use the MongoDB shell and any of the standard MongoDB command utilities and tools. To use the REST API or the MQTT protocol, you must modify the default configuration.

If you create the Informix® server instance outside of the installation process, you must configure and start the wire listener manually.