# export a full SQL dump of your database

There is no single built-in

`php artisan` command to export a full SQL *dump* of your database and data. However, Laravel offers commands to manage your database structure via schema dumps or you can use third-party packages and external system commands for full data export.

1. Exporting Database Schema (`schema:dump`)

Laravel provides the `schema:dump` command to export the current database schema (table structures, not data) to an SQL file. This is primarily used to speed up migrations in large projects.

- **Dump the schema:**

bash

- ``` php artisan schema:dump ``` This command generates an `[connection-name]-schema.sql` file (e.g., `mysql-schema.sql`) in your `database/schema` directory. The file includes SQL commands equivalent to your migrations. - **Dump schema and prune migrations:**

bash

``` php artisan schema:dump --prune ``` This command generates the SQL file and then deletes all your existing migration files, as they are no longer needed to build the initial schema.

2. Exporting Full Database (Data + Schema)

For a complete database backup including all data, the recommended approach is to use the `mysqldump` command directly or leverage a community package that wraps this functionality.

Using `mysqldump` (External Command)

You can run system-level commands from your terminal, which is the most reliable way to create a full SQL dump:

bash

``` mysqldump -u [username] -p [database_name] > [filename].sql ``` - Replace `[username]` with your MySQL username. - `[database_name]` is the name of your database. - `[filename].sql` is the desired output file name and path. - You will be prompted to enter your database password after running the command.

Using a Laravel Package

For an integrated solution within your Laravel application, the popular `spatie/laravel-backup` package is widely recommended. It uses `mysqldump` internally and provides a simple Artisan command to run backups.

1. **Install the package:**

bash

2. ``` composer require spatie/laravel-backup ``` 3. **Run the backup command:**

bash

``` php artisan backup:run ``` This will create a compressed archive containing the SQL dump and save it in the `storage/app/backups` directory by default. You can find detailed instructions and configuration options on the official Spatie Laravel Backup documentation page