A logical backup copies data, but not physical files, from one location to another. A logical backup is used to move or archive a database, tables, or schemas and to verify database structures.
A full logical backup enables you to copy these items across environments that use different components, such as operating systems:
Entire applications
Data repositories such as the Oracle Hyperion Shared Services Registry and Oracle Essbase cubes
Individual artifacts such as scripts, data forms, and rule files
A logical export backup generates necessary Structured Query Language (SQL) statements to obtain all table data that is written to a binary file. A logical export backup does not contain database instance-related information, such as the physical disk location, so you can restore the same data on another database machine. Periodic logical export backups (at least weekly) are recommended in case physical backups fail or the database machine becomes unavailable.
