This document discusses database backup and recovery. It defines backup as additional copies of data for restoration if the primary copy is lost or corrupted. There are several types of backups including full, incremental, differential, and mirror backups. Recovery brings the database back to a prior consistent state, using techniques like log files, check pointing, and immediate or deferred transaction updates. Factors like backup location, test restores, automation, and database design can influence recovery duration. Alternatives to traditional backup and recovery include standby databases, replication, and disk mirroring.