Backup Database
The Backup Database keyword is used to take or create a full backup of an existing SQL database.
A Database Backup is a copy of SQL Server data that can be used to restore and recover the data after a failure.
We can take multiple backup copies of one database at different times.
A backup file is stored with .bak extension.
Syntax
BACKUP DATABASE <BACKUP_NAME> TO DISK = <FILE_PATH_BACKUP_FILE_NAME>;
Example
BACKUP DATABASE MYDB TO DISK = 'E:\backups\mydbbackup.bak';
Differential Backup
A differential backup captures only the data that has changed since the last full backup.
After that, we worked on that database, so again we want to take a backup of the changes. There is no need to take a full backup; instead, use a differential backup.
So using differential backup only changes after a full backup has been taken. As a result, no additional space is required for backup, and backup time can be reduced.
Syntax
BACKUP DATABASE <BACKUP_NAME> TO DISK = <FILE_PATH_BACKUP_FILE_NAME> WITH DIFFERENTIAL;
Example
BACKUP DATABASE MYDB TO DISK = 'E:\backups\mydbbackup.bak' WITH DIFFERENTIAL;
Summary
The Backup Database keyword is used to take or create a full backup of an existing SQL database.