Snapshot Replication

Definition - What does Snapshot Replication mean?

Snapshot replication refers to a replication method between databases. During this process, data is infrequently updated at specified times by copying data changes from the original database (publisher) to a receiving database (subscriber).

Techopedia explains Snapshot Replication

Snapshot replication is the ideal replication method under any of the following conditions:

When data changes infrequently
When the publisher and subscriber are not required to be in sync at all times
When data changes are large but occur over a short period of time

Replication only copies data that has been changed since the data was previously replicated. In certain cases, snapshot replication is not the best option, e.g., a commercial bank database replication.

Snapshot replication also is a good way to perform the initial publisher and subscriber sync. While setting up the replication, snapshot scheduling, frequency and times should be applied for each database.

Other replication types include merge replication and transactional replication.