---
name: "gdbm_dump"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gdbm"
version: "1.26-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gdbm_dump"
---

# gdbm\_dump(1)

dump a GDBM database to a file

## NAME

gdbm\_dump - dump a GDBM database to a file

## SYNOPSIS

**gdbm\_dump** \[**-H** *FMT*\] \[**--format**=*FMT*\] *DB\_FILE* \[*FILE*\]

**gdbm\_dump** \[**-Vh**\] \[**--help**\] \[**--usage**\] \[**--version**\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **gdbm\_dump** utility creates a dump of the specified [**gdbm**(3)](/gdbm/3.md) database file.  The name for the output dump file is supplied by the second argument (*FILE*).  If not specified, the output goes to the standard error.

The created dump can be given as argument to the [**gdbm\_load**(1)](/gdbm_load/1.md) utility in order to re-create an exact copy of the *DB\_FILE*.

## OPTIONS

- **-H**, **--format**=*FMT*

  Select dump format.  The value **binary** (or **0**) instructs **gdbm\_dump** to produce a binary dump, compatible with earlier **gdbm** versions (up to version 1.9).  The value **ascii** (or **1**) instructs it to create an ASCII dump (this is the default).  The latter is preferred because, apart from the actual data, it also contains meta-information which will allow [**gdbm\_load**(1)](/gdbm_load/1.md) to recreate an exact copy of the file.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print a short usage summary.

- **--usage**

  Print a list of available options.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print program version

## SEE ALSO

[**gdbm\_load**(1)](/gdbm_load/1.md), [**gdbmtool**(1)](/gdbmtool/1.md), [**gdbm**(3)](/gdbm/3.md).

For a detailed description of **gdbm\_dump** and other **gdbm** utilities, refer to the **GDBM Manual** available in Texinfo format.  To access it, run:

**info gdbm**

The documentation is also available online at

**https://www.gnu.org/software/gdbm/manual**

Should any discrepancies occur between this manpage and the **GDBM Manual**, the later shall be considered the authoritative source.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bug-gdbm@gnu.org\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2013-2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc\
 License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.