# `BR` Overview

+ Distributed hot physical backup (system tables will not be included)
+ Can back up and restore data at entire cluster, database/schema and table level
+ Encryption for backup data

![`smart`](BRPIBackupStore_aa_003_20220618.png)
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`BR (Backup & Restore)` is a command-line tool for distributed backup and restoration of the `TiDB` cluster data. In addition to regular backup and restoration, you can also use `BR` for large-scale data migration as long as compatibility is ensured.

`BR` sends a backup or restoration command to each `TiKV` node. After receiving the command, `TiKV` performs the corresponding backup or restoration operation.

Each `TiKV` node has a path in which the backup files generated in the backup operation are stored and from which the stored backup files are read during the restoration.

`BR` features:
- Back up `TiDB` cluster data.
- Back up specific databases.
- Back up specific tables.
- Restore `TiDB` cluster data.
- Restore specific databases.
- Restore specific tables.