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

# gdbm\_load(1)

re-create a GDBM database from a dump file.

## NAME

gdbm\_load - re-create a GDBM database from a dump file.

## SYNOPSIS

**gdbm\_load** \[**-MUnr**\] \[**-b** *NUM*\] \[**-c** *NUM\] \[***-m** *MODE*\] \[**-u** *NAME*\|*UID*\[:*NAME*\|*GID*\]\] \[**--block-size**=*NUM*\] \[**--cache-size**=*NUM*\] \[**--mmap**=*NUM*\] \[**--mode**=*MODE*\] \[**--no-meta**\] \[**--replace**\] \[**--update**\] \[**--user**=*NAME*\|*UID*\[:*NAME*\|*GID*\]\] *FILE* \[*DB\_FILE*\]

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

## DESCRIPTION

Create a **gdbm** database file *DB\_FILE* from the dump file *FILE*. If the *FILE* argument is not supplied, output the created database to the standard error.

If the input file is in ASCII dump format, the mode and ownership of the created database are restored from the information in the dump. This can be overridden using the command line options (see below).

## OPTIONS

- **-b**, **--block-size**=*NUM*

  Sets block size.

- **-c**, **--cache-size**=*NUM*

  Sets cache size.

- **-M**, **--mmap**

  Use memory mapping.

- **-m**, **--mode**=*MODE*

  Set database file mode (octal number).

- **-n**, **--no-meta**

  Do not attempt to restore database meta-data (mode and ownership).

- **-r**, **--replace**

  Replace existing keys.  This must be used together with the **-U** (**--update**) option.

- **-U**, **--update**

  Update an existing database.  Key/value pairs from the dump file will be added to that database, without removing the existing keys.  To overwrite keys that are duplicated in the dump file, use the **--replace** option.

-

  If the database does not exist, it will be created.

- **-u**, **--user**=*NAME*\|*UID*\[:*NAME*\|*GID*\]

  Set file ownership.

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

  Print a short usage summary.

- **--usage**

  Print a list of available options.

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

  Print program version

## SEE ALSO

[**gdbm\_dump**(1)](/gdbm_dump/1.md), [**gdbmtool**(1)](/gdbmtool/1.md), [**gdbm**(3)](/gdbm/3.md).

For a detailed description of **gdbm\_load** 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.