The SQL BACKUP DATABASE Statement

The BACKUP DATABASE statement is used in SQL Server to create a full back up of an existing SQL database.

Syntax

 BACKUP DATABASE databasename

  TO DISK =  'filepath';

The SQL BACKUP WITH DIFFERENTIAL Statement

A differential back up only backs up the parts of the database that have changed since the last full database backup.

Example

 BACKUP DATABASE databasename

 TO DISK =  'filepath'

 WITH DIFFERENTIAL;

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BACKUP DATABASE Example

The following SQL statement creates a full back up of the existing database newDB" to the D disk:

Example

 BACKUP DATABASE newDB

 TO DISK =  'D:\backups\newDB.bak';

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Tip: Always back up the database to a different drive than the actual database . Then, if you get a disk crash, you will not lose your backup file along with the database.

BACKUP WITH DIFFERENTIAL Example

The following SQL statement creates a differential back up of the database "newDB":

Example

 BACKUP DATABASE newDB

  TO DISK =  'D:\backups\newDB.bak'

 WITH DIFFERENTIAL;

You can click on above box to edit the code and run again.

Tip: A differential back up reduces the back up time (since only the changes are backed up).