What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Snapshot vs Backup - What's the difference?

snapshot | backup |

In computing|lang=en terms the difference between snapshot and backup

is that snapshot is (computing) a file or set of files captured at a particular time, capable of being reloaded to restore the earlier state while backup is (computing) that is intended as a backup.

As nouns the difference between snapshot and backup

is that snapshot is a photograph, especially one taken quickly or in a moment of opportunity while backup is a reserve or substitute.

As a verb snapshot

is to take a snapshot of.

As an adjective backup is

standby, reserve or extra.

snapshot

English

Noun

(wikipedia snapshot) (en noun)
  • A photograph, especially one taken quickly or in a moment of opportunity.
    • He carried a snapshot of his daughter.
  • A glimpse of something; a portrayal of something at a moment in time.
    • The article offered a snapshot of life in that region.
  • (computing) A file or set of files captured at a particular time, capable of being reloaded to restore the earlier state.
    • This game is so hard that I find myself taking a snapshot every few seconds in case I get killed.
  • (soccer) A quick, unplanned or unexpected shot.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=March 2 , author=Chris Whyatt , title=Arsenal 5 - 0 Leyton Orient , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Yet Revell misjudged his promising position in the area to put his point-blank snapshot wide from only six yards out. }}

    Verb

  • To take a snapshot of.
  • * 1904 , David T Hanbury, Sport and Travel in the Northland of Canada
    • As he did not appear disposed to move off, I took my camera and approached within about thirty yards, when I snapshotted him.
  • * 2007 , David E. Irwin, An Operating System Architecture for Networked Server Infrastructure (page 30)
    • Filer appliances also offer programmatic snapshotting and cloning at the block-level or file system-level.

    backup

    English

    Alternative forms

    * back-up

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A reserve or substitute.
    • If the goalkeeper is injured, we have a backup .
  • (computing) A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is destroyed or damaged.
    • After the power failure, we had to restore the database from backup .
  • An accumulation of material that halts the flow or movement of something.
    • The blockage caused a backup in the plumbing.
  • (law enforcement) reinforcements
    • He's got a gun - you better send for backup .

    Synonyms

    * (reserve ): reserve, stand-in, spare, substitute * (computing: copy of a file or record ): * (accumulation of material that halts flow ): block, blockage

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Standby, reserve or extra.
    • I am only a backup player.
  • (computing) That is intended as a backup.
    • Make a backup copy of that file.

    Synonyms

    * (reserve) extra, reserve, spare, standby

    Usage notes

    Back-up'' is an alternative spelling of backup. Both spellings are used as either a noun or an adjective. The verb ''back up is always spelled as two words and never with a hyphen.