Mongoose populate nested array

Question

Assuming the following 3 models:

var CarSchema = new Schema({
  name: {type: String},
  partIds: [{type: Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: \'Part\'}],
});

var Par         


        

Answer 1

Update: Please see Trinh Hoang Nhu's answer for a more compact version that was added in Mongoose 4. Summarized below:

Car
  .find()
  .populate({
    path: 'partIds',
    model: 'Part',
    populate: {
      path: 'otherIds',
      model: 'Other'
    }
  })

---

Mongoose 3 and below:

Car
  .find()
  .populate('partIds')
  .exec(function(err, docs) {
    if(err) return callback(err);
    Car.populate(docs, {
      path: 'partIds.otherIds',
      model: 'Other'
    },
    function(err, cars) {
      if(err) return callback(err);
      console.log(cars); // This object should now be populated accordingly.
    });
  });

For nested populations like this, you have to tell mongoose the Schema you want to populate from.