SQLite Import, Export, and Backup Cheatsheet

.mode csv
.import ./users.csv users

# Set shell parsing options before import.

.headers on
.mode csv
.once recent_users.csv
SELECT id, email, created_at FROM users ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 100;

# Write selected rows to a CSV file.

.dump users

# Export only selected table schema and data.

sqlite3 app.db < seed.sql

# Execute inserts and DDL from a seed script.

VACUUM INTO 'backup-2026-03-28.db';

# Write a fresh copy of the database to a new file.

.backup backup.db

# Create a backup from inside sqlite3.

VACUUM;

# Rebuild the database file and reclaim free space.

PRAGMA integrity_check;

# Verify the database structure and content consistency.