Databases Beginner

What is Database Backup?

The process of creating copies of database data to protect against data loss from failures, corruption, or human error.

Backup strategies include logical backups (pg_dump — SQL statements to recreate data), physical backups (file-level copies of data directory), and continuous archiving (WAL shipping for point-in-time recovery).

The 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, with 1 offsite copy. Test restores regularly — an untested backup is not a backup. Automate backups with cron and monitor for failures. Cloud providers offer managed backup solutions.

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Related Terms

A database object that automatically executes a specified function when certain events (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) occur on a table.

A centralized repository optimized for analytical queries that integrates data from multiple operational sources.

EXPLAIN ANALYZE

A PostgreSQL command that shows the execution plan of a query along with actual runtime statistics for performance tuning.

A technique of dividing large database tables into smaller, more manageable segments while maintaining a single logical table.

A database command that shows how the query planner will execute a SQL query, revealing join methods, scan types, and estimated costs.

Write-Ahead Log (WAL)

A technique where changes are first written to a log before being applied to the database, ensuring crash recovery and data integrity.

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