> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.squarecloud.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Managing Snapshots

> In this section, you will learn how to create, retrieve, and restore snapshots for your applications and databases using the Python SDK.

[Client]: client

[Application]: client#application

Snapshots are backups of your application or database at a specific point in time. They allow you to restore your application or database to a previous state if needed. Square Cloud provides unlimited snapshots with automatic daily backups.

## Creating an application snapshot

`client.snapshot` returns a `Snapshot` object.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Using Client">
    ```python theme={null}
    import squarecloud as square

    client = square.Client(api_key='API_KEY')

    async def example():
        snapshot = await client.snapshot(app_id='application_id')
        
        print(snapshot.url)  # Download URL for the snapshot
        print(snapshot.key)  # Snapshot key identifier
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Using Application">
    ```python theme={null}
    import squarecloud as square

    client = square.Client(api_key='API_KEY')

    async def example():
        app = await client.app('application_id')
        snapshot = await app.snapshot()
        
        print(snapshot.url)  # Download URL for the snapshot
        print(snapshot.key)  # Snapshot key identifier
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Downloading a snapshot

The `Snapshot` object provides a method to download the snapshot as a zip file.

```python theme={null}
import squarecloud as square

client = square.Client(api_key='API_KEY')

async def example():
    snapshot = await client.snapshot(app_id='application_id')
    
    # Download snapshot to current directory
    zip_file = await snapshot.download()
    
    # Download snapshot to specific directory
    zip_file = await snapshot.download(path='./backups')
```

## Listing application snapshots

`client.all_app_snapshots` returns a list of `SnapshotInfo` objects.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Using Client">
    ```python theme={null}
    import squarecloud as square

    client = square.Client(api_key='API_KEY')

    async def example():
        snapshots = await client.all_app_snapshots(app_id='application_id')
        
        for snapshot in snapshots:
            print(f"Snapshot ID: {snapshot.id}")
            print(f"  Size: {snapshot.size}")
            print(f"  Created at: {snapshot.created_at}")
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Using Application">
    ```python theme={null}
    import squarecloud as square

    client = square.Client(api_key='API_KEY')

    async def example():
        app = await client.app('application_id')
        snapshots = await app.all_snapshots()
        
        for snapshot in snapshots:
            print(f"Snapshot ID: {snapshot.id}")
            print(f"  Size: {snapshot.size}")
            print(f"  Created at: {snapshot.created_at}")
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Restoring a snapshot

`client.restore_snapshot` returns a `Response` object. You can restore snapshots for both applications and databases.

```python theme={null}
import squarecloud as square

client = square.Client(api_key='API_KEY')

async def example():
    # Restore an application snapshot
    response = await client.restore_snapshot(
        application_type='app',
        app_id='application_id',
        snapshot_id='snapshot_id',
        version_id='version_id'
    )
    
    print(f"Snapshot restored: {response.status}")
    
    # Restore a database snapshot
    response = await client.restore_snapshot(
        application_type='database',
        app_id='database_id',
        snapshot_id='snapshot_id',
        version_id='version_id'
    )
    
    print(f"Database snapshot restored: {response.status}")
```

## Snapshot data structures

### Snapshot

The `Snapshot` object represents a created snapshot:

| Property | Type  | Description                        |
| -------- | ----- | ---------------------------------- |
| `url`    | `str` | Download URL for the snapshot      |
| `key`    | `str` | Unique identifier for the snapshot |

### SnapshotInfo

The `SnapshotInfo` object represents snapshot metadata:

| Property     | Type  | Description                            |
| ------------ | ----- | -------------------------------------- |
| `id`         | `str` | Snapshot unique identifier             |
| `size`       | `str` | Size of the snapshot                   |
| `created_at` | `str` | Snapshot creation timestamp (ISO 8601) |

## Best practices

* **Automatic backups**: Square Cloud automatically creates daily snapshots for your applications and databases.
* **Unlimited snapshots**: Create as many manual snapshots as needed without additional costs.
* **Retention period**: Snapshots are retained for 30 days.
* **Restoration time**: The restoration process takes approximately 60 seconds to ensure all data is stable.
* **Testing**: Before restoring a snapshot, consider creating a new application or database to test the restore process first.

## Snapshot limits

* **Daily snapshots per plan**: Each plan can generate `(RAM / 256) * 2` snapshots per day
  * Example: Hobby plan with 2048MB = 16 daily snapshots (480 per month)
* **Retention**: All snapshots are retained for the last 30 days
* **Cost**: No additional cost for snapshots