How to create a Differential Backup in SQL Server

Differential backups in SQL Server is a database backup that happens after the latest full backup. Full backups create the backups of the entire database, but there is a gap that happens after the latest full backups and this gap is covered by the differential database backups.

Further, differential backups are taken to restore a database with the changes made since the last full backups. A unique feature is turned on when there is any change in the transaction in the database since the last full backups and thereafter a differential backup is created. Multiple differential backups can be created, and every now and then when the differential backups are created, they are from the last full backups.

If a full backup is very old, then there are high chances that the differential database backups sizes to be very big.

Here is the T-SQL command to create a differential backup in SQL Server:

BACKUP DATABASE [SQL_TEST] TO DISK = N'C:\SQLArena\LOG\SQL_TEST.DIF' WITH DIFFERENTIAL

STATS = 10

Steps to follow in SQL Server Management Studio graphic user interface:

1. Right-click on the “database” name

2. Click the option “Tasks”

3. A new window pops with a drop-down to select “Differential”

4. Select the “Differential” option with a specific disk under the option “Back up to”

5. Click “OK” to take the full backup

The screenshot for the same is mentioned below: