---
title: "How to Backup MySQL Database on Command Line"
description: "For all of your SQL backup needs, the mysqldump command does everything for you. This handy utility creates a plain text file with the SQL commands needed to re-create the database. How to backup a..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/server/linux/how-to-backup-mysql-database-on-command-line/
date: 2020-04-13
modified: 2020-04-23
author: "Christopher Maiorana"
categories: ["Linux"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to Backup MySQL Database on Command Line

For all of your SQL backup needs, the `mysqldump` command does everything for you. This handy utility creates a plain text file with the SQL commands needed to re-create the database.

- [How to backup a single database on the command line](#howtobackupasingledatabaseonthecommandline)
- [How to backup all databases on the command line](#howtobackupalldatabasesonthecommandline)
- [How to backup a WordPress database on command Line](#howtobackupalldatabasesonthecommandline)

This makes it much easier to transfer databases to other servers as well as creating backups.

## How To Backup a Single Database On The Command Line

In order to backup a single database, you’ll just need to run this statement at your command prompt:

```
mysqldump > dump.sql
```

In this case, “dump.sql” is the backup file you want to generate. You can change that filename to whatever you want.

## How To Backup All Databases on The Command Line

If you maintain multiple sites with multiple databases, you can also back them all up with one command:

```
mysqldump --all-databases > dump.sql
```

## How To Backup a WordPress Database On Command Line

Using the command line is simply faster and more efficient. For example, with two commands, you can locate and backup a WordPress database.

First, make sure you change directories into the root of the WordPress site (where the core files are located).

Then drop this command:

```
dw(){ dr="${1-$PWD}"; config="${dr%/}/wp-config.php"; db=$(grep "DB_NAME" $config|cut -d\' -f4); usr=$(grep "DB_USER" $config|cut -d\' -f4); pw=$(grep "DB_PASSWORD" $config|cut -d\' -f4); pre=$(grep "table_prefix" $config|cut -d\' -f2);}; dw
```

Now the database name and user/password information are stored in variables that will be used when you run the next command:

```
mysqldump -Q --add-drop-table --routines -h${host-localhost} -p"$pw" -u$usr $db
```

So with two commands you now have a backup of the WordPress database.