ADB Backup
Definition
An Android Debug Bridge backup produced by the adb backup command. The output is a TAR archive prefixed by a small plaintext header specifying version, compression, and encryption status. Each entry in the archive corresponds to an app's data directory or external storage content.
- Tool
- Android Debug Bridge, adb backup command
- Output format
- TAR archive
- Header
- Plaintext, states version, compression, encryption
- Contents
- Per-app data directory and external storage content
Common questions
Why does the plaintext header of an ADB backup matter to an examiner?+
It reveals immediately whether the archive is encrypted or compressed before any extraction attempt, letting the examiner choose the correct decryption or decompression tool rather than guessing at the archive format.
Does an ADB backup capture the same data as a full physical device image?+
No, it is limited to data the backup mechanism and individual apps expose through their backup agents, so it typically misses system partitions and app data that developers have flagged as excluded from backup.
Related terms
- allowBackup Flag
- An Android manifest attribute (android:allowBackup) that controls whether an app's data is included in ADB backups. When set to false the app's...
- Backup Keybag
- A data structure in iOS encrypted backups that holds the per-class encryption keys used to protect individual files. The keybag itself is...
- CLOUD Act
- The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (US, 2018). Clarifies that US service providers must comply with valid US legal process...
- Domain (iOS Backup)
- A prefix in the iOS backup manifest that identifies the origin of each backed-up file. Common domains include HomeDomain (the device home...
- Manifest.db
- The SQLite database at the root of every iTunes local backup. It maps each backed-up file to its SHA-1 hash filename, recording...