{
  "slug": "full-backup",
  "term": "Full backup",
  "aliases": [],
  "definition": "A full backup captures every data object within a defined backup scope, whether or not it has changed since an earlier backup.",
  "note": "Full describes coverage of the selected scope, not necessarily an entire server. [snia-full] SQL Server includes enough transaction log in a full database backup to recover it to backup completion; a later recovery point needs subsequent log backups. [sql-full]",
  "status": "shipping",
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "updated": "2026-10-14",
  "advantages": [
    {
      "text": "Can provide the complete data baseline for later differential or incremental backups.",
      "citationIds": [
        "snia-full"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    {
      "text": "Complete scope does not mean coverage of changes made after backup completion.",
      "citationIds": [
        "sql-full"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "backup",
    "incremental-backup",
    "differential-backup",
    "synthetic-full-backup",
    "restore-test",
    "point-in-time-recovery"
  ],
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "snia-full",
      "title": "SNIA Dictionary: full backup",
      "url": "https://www.snia.org/education/online-dictionary/term/full-backup",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    },
    {
      "id": "sql-full",
      "title": "Microsoft SQL Server: Full database backups and restore scope",
      "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/backup-restore/full-database-backups-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver17",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    },
    {
      "id": "hesela-backup-evidence",
      "title": "Hesela: Backup verification is not a restore test",
      "url": "https://hesela.com/analyses/backup-verification-is-not-a-restore-test/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    }
  ]
}