The Difference Between Exporting from the WordPress Admin Dashboard and Database Plugin Backup

Naiba previously introducedAutomatically backup WordPress websites using plugins. Today, a friend asked about the difference between the SQL file backed up by a plugin and the XML file exported from the WordPress backend. In the WordPress backend, under Tools in the left sidebar, there is an export function. This function can export most of your website data, such as posts, pages, comments, custom fields, and entry information.If using a database backup plugin, the exported file is an SQL file. The biggest difference between these two methods is:For XML exported files, if your website has a large amount of data, there is a high chance of errors and import failure during import. Additionally, it does not include plugin settings information. SQL exported database files basically do not encounter import issues and contain all your website information, including various plugin settings and plugin data. Generally, unless you want to thoroughly clean up your website's database, you might consider using XML export for data backup; otherwise, it is recommended to back up the database.