“Dump to CSV” is a common term (often used in programming, database management, or data engineering) that refers to extracting, copying, or “dumping” data directly from a source (e.g., a database, API, log file, or in-memory dataset) into a CSV file — typically in a straightforward, bulk manner, with minimal formatting or transformation.
While it’s similar to “Export to CSV“, “dump” carries a slightly more technical, “raw” connotation: it emphasizes capturing data as-is from its original source (without extra user-driven edits) and writing it to CSV for immediate use (e.g., backup, transfer, or further processing).
“Dump to CSV” is most commonly used in technical workflows where data is retrieved programmatically or from backend systems:
1. Database Data Dumps (Most Common)
Developers/DBAs often “dump” entire database tables, queries, or datasets to CSV for:
- Backups: Creating a plain-text backup of table data (e.g., mysqldump for MySQL, or Python’s psycopg2 for PostgreSQL, with output directed to CSV).
- Migration: Moving raw data from one database to another (e.g., dumping PostgreSQL table to CSV, then importing the CSV into a SQLite database).
- Debugging: Extracting raw query results to CSV to inspect data without relying on database GUIs.
2. Programming & Scripting
In coding (Python, JavaScript, etc.), “dump to CSV” describes writing structured data (lists, dictionaries, DataFrames) directly to a CSV file:
- Using libraries like Python’s csv module or pandas (e.g., df.to_csv(‘output.csv’, index=False) to dump a DataFrame to CSV).
- Capturing API responses: Dumping JSON data from an API into CSV for easier manipulation (e.g., “The script dumps daily sales data from the API to CSV automatically.”).
3. Logs & System Data
Technical systems often “dump” unprocessed log data (server logs, application logs) to CSV for auditing or analysis:
Example: A web server dumps access logs (timestamp, IP address, request type) to CSV to track traffic patterns without manual formatting.