Dumping and Backing up

[ccd1]

What's the difference between dumping and backing up a mySQL database? I've noticed the dumps are considerable smaller than backing up the SQL files itself.

[Steve Machol]

If you mean mysqldump, then the --opt option optimizes the db and results in a smaller file size.

[ccd1]

So it's just a compressed version of the same thing?

[Steve Machol]

It's an 'optimized' version - not compressed.

[eva2000]

it's optimised and more importantly for large databases the --opt command tells mysql not to load the entire database into memory prior to dumping/backing up

[ccd1]

Thank you very much. This is an issue I keep seeing online without any real explination.