Where Does Budibase Store Apps and Data?
Budibase single container data volume and env config on a Linux host.
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Budibase self hosted runs close to a single container with its CouchDB based store inside a mounted data volume. Apps, tables, automations, users and API keys live in that volume. The host contributes one compose file or run command plus environment variables.
Upgrades swap the image and reattach the volume, so the volume is the server. Back it up at the filesystem or with the in-app export for individual apps. Losing the volume means rebuilding every app by hand; losing the compose file just means rewriting flags.
Where Budibase stores this, by platform
The budibase data volume mounted from your deploy folder
Check the exact host path with docker inspect on the container. Holds the internal database with apps and tables. Export critical apps from the builder UI as a second copy before upgrades.
Frequently asked questions
how do I back up self-hosted Budibase
Stop writes or snapshot cleanly, then back up the data volume contents from the host path shown in docker inspect. Export each important app from the builder too. Restore means reattaching the volume to the same image line.
where are Budibase environment settings
In the environment variables of your run command or compose file (ports, URLs, CouchDB credentials). The apps themselves never read .env directly; the server injects them at start.
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