> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.noxity.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Export a Database
> Download a SQL dump of your database from phpMyAdmin, with options for format, compression, and partial exports.
Exporting downloads a snapshot of your database to your laptop. Use it before risky changes, when migrating to another host, or when handing the data to a developer for local testing.
For long-term backups, use [JetBackup](/web-hosting/cpanel/file-management/jetbackup) instead. It runs nightly, stores off-server, and includes the whole account, not just one database.
## Quick export (the fast path)
Click the database name. Don't click into a single table unless you only want that table.
Top of the page.
**Export method**: Quick. **Format**: SQL. The browser downloads `database_name.sql` straight away.
That's the 90% case. For everything else, switch to **Custom**.
## Custom export
Custom mode reveals every option. Useful when:
* You only want some tables, not all
* You want compressed output (`.zip` or `.gz`)
* You want the dump in CSV, JSON, or another format
* You need `INSERT IGNORE` instead of `INSERT`, or no `DROP TABLE` statements
The options most people change:
| Option | What to set |
| ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Tables** | Pick a subset, or click **Unselect All** then re-pick |
| **Output: Compression** | `gzipped` for big databases, usually 1/10th the size |
| **Format** | `SQL` is the standard. `CSV` for spreadsheets. `JSON` for programmatic use |
| **Object creation: Add DROP TABLE** | Tick if you want the dump to recreate from scratch on import |
| **Data dump: Use extended INSERTs** | Untick if you've ever hit "MySQL server has gone away" on import |
## Format choices
| Format | When to use |
| ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| SQL | Re-importing into another MySQL/MariaDB server |
| CSV | Opening in Excel or Google Sheets, or feeding into a data pipeline |
| JSON | Loading into a script that doesn't speak SQL |
| XML | Legacy enterprise tools that demand it |
| PDF | Printing a snapshot for compliance (schema only, no data) |
For backups, always SQL.
## Export a single table
Click the database in the left tree, then click the table name.
Same tab as for whole-database export. The scope is now just this one table.
The download is a single-table dump.
## Common issues
Browser blocked the download, or the export hit a timeout. Switch to **Custom**, tick **Save output to a file**, and pick `gzipped` compression. Smaller files finish before any timeout.
For very large exports, use SSH and `mysqldump`:
```bash theme={}
ssh username@hostname.web.systeminterface.net
mysqldump -u username_dbuser -p username_dbname | gzip > backup.sql.gz
```
Custom export → scroll to **Object creation options** → untick **Add CREATE PROCEDURE / FUNCTION / EVENT statement** if you're moving the dump to a host that doesn't run procedures. Or use the SSH route with `mysqldump --skip-definer`.
Tick **Add DROP TABLE / VIEW / PROCEDURE / FUNCTION / EVENT / TRIGGER statement** in the Custom export. This makes the dump self-replacing. Re-importing replaces existing tables instead of failing on duplicates.
Watch for `utf8mb4_0900_ai_ci` if exporting from MySQL 8 to a MariaDB target. See the import [common issues](/web-hosting/cpanel/database-management/phpmyadmin/import) for the workaround.
## Next
Same Import tab on another phpMyAdmin or another host.
JetBackup runs without you needing to remember.
## Need a hand?
Best for anything that needs an account check or a config change on our end.
Faster for quick questions during business hours.