Create Back Up File
docker exec -t phoenixDB pg_dump -U postgres -d phoenix > phoenix_backup.sql

# PostgreSQL Database Backup in Docker

## 🛠️ Backup Commands for `phoenixDB`

### 1️⃣ **Dump Database (Including DROP Statements)**
```sh
docker exec -t phoenixDB pg_dump -U postgres -d phoenix -c > alpha_backup.sql
```
📖 Explanation:
	•	docker exec -t phoenixDB → Runs the pg_dump command inside the phoenixDB container.
	•	pg_dump -U postgres -d phoenix -c:
	•	-U postgres → Connect as user postgres.
	•	-d phoenix → Dump the phoenix database.
	•	-c → Includes DROP statements (cleans tables before restoring).
	•	> phoenix_backup.sql → Saves the dump to your host machine.

🔹 When to Use?
	•	Use this when you want to completely overwrite an existing database on restore.
	•	Ensures that old tables are dropped before new ones are created.

# Dump Database (Without DROP Statements)
```sh
docker exec -t phoenixDB pg_dump -U postgres -d phoenix > phoenix_backup.sql
```

📖 Explanation:
	•	Similar to the previous command, but without -c.
	•	This does NOT include DROP TABLE statements, meaning:
	•	It will fail if restoring to a database that already has tables with the same names.
	•	Use this when restoring to a new empty database.

🔹 When to Use?
	•	If you’re backing up for archival purposes.
	•	If you don’t want to drop existing data on restore.

# 🛠️ How to Restore the Backup?
## Restore to a Database (bkp1)
```sh
cat phoenix_backup.sql | docker exec -i phoenixDB psql -U postgres -d bkp1
```
📖 Explanation:
	•	cat phoenix_backup.sql → Reads the dump file.
	•	| → Pipes it into the psql command inside the container.
	•	docker exec -i phoenixDB psql -U postgres -d bkp2
	•	-i → Allows input redirection.
	•	-U postgres → Connects as the postgres user.
	•	-d bkp2 → Restores to the bkp2 database

# 🎯 Final Notes
	•	Use the -c flag when restoring into an existing database and you want to drop old tables first.
	•	Omit -c when restoring into a new, empty database.