MySQL Backup and Restore with mysqldump

Backups separate professionals from gamblers. mysqldump exports databases as re-runnable SQL files — simple, portable, and scriptable, making it the first backup tool everyone should master.

Key Points

• Backup one database: mysqldump -u root -p sales_db > sales_backup.sql
• All databases: mysqldump --all-databases > full_backup.sql
• Structure only: --no-data; data only: --no-create-info
• Restore: mysql -u root -p sales_db < sales_backup.sql
• Use --single-transaction for consistent InnoDB backups without locking
• Automate with cron and always test restores — an untested backup isn't one