The answer
Field types (String, Number, Date, ObjectId), validation (required, min, max, enum, match), defaults, indexes (unique, sparse), virtuals, middleware hooks, and instance/static methods.
Mongoose Schema vs Model: What's the Difference
What does a Mongoose schema define?
More FAQs in Mongoose Schema vs Model: What's the Difference
A schema defines the shape of a document (fields, types, validation, defaults). A model is a constructor compiled from a schema; it is what you use to query and save documents. Schema is the blueprint; model is the database interface.
Define a schema with new mongoose.Schema({ ... }), then compile a model with mongoose.model('User', userSchema). The model is what you use to create, read, update, and delete documents.
Model.create, Model.find, Model.findOne, Model.findById, Model.findByIdAndUpdate, Model.findByIdAndDelete, Model.countDocuments, Model.updateMany. Each returns a promise (with await) or a query (chainable).
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