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GLOSSARY

What is Backup?

DEFINITION

A backup is a saved copy of your website's files and database that you can restore if something goes wrong, such as a failed update, a hack or an accidental deletion. A useful backup is recent, stored somewhere other than the server it protects, and actually tested by restoring it.

Backups taken by your host and backups taken by a plugin are separate things, and either can be missing or out of date. A backup of only the files without the database, or the reverse, cannot rebuild a working site. Why it matters: A backup is the difference between a quick recovery and rebuilding from scratch after a hack or a bad update.

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