diff --git a/code/database.py b/code/database.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e49e705
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/database.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+from pymongo import MongoClient
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+import logging
+import os
+
+def connect(
+    ip_addr: str | None = None,
+    db_name: str | None = None,
+    collection_name: str | None = None
+):
+    """
+    Connect to MongoDB database and return collection.
+    """
+    # ensure variables are set
+    if ip_addr is None:
+        ip_addr = os.getenv('DB_IP_ADDRESS')
+    if db_name is None:
+        db_name = os.getenv('DB_NAME')
+    if collection_name is None:
+        collection_name = os.getenv('DB_COLLECTION_NAME')
+    # connect to database
+    client = MongoClient(ip_addr)
+    db = client[db_name]
+    collection = db[collection_name]
+    return collection
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    load_dotenv()
+    collection = connect()
+    print(collection)
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