---
sidebar_position: 1
title: COPY FROM DATABASE
description: Copy a database from one location to another in MotherDuck
keywords:
  - copy database
  - clone database
  - duplicate database
  - database copy
  - database clone
---

The `COPY FROM DATABASE` statement creates a new database from an existing one by copying its structure and data. This command can be used to:

[Interact with MotherDuck Databases](#copy-a-motherduck-database-to-a-motherduck-database)
  - Copy MotherDuck databases to MotherDuck databases

[Interact with Local Databases](#interacting-with-local-databases)
  - Copy local databases to MotherDuck databases
  - Copy MotherDuck databases to local databases
  - Copy local databases to local databases

The `COPY FROM DATABASE` command is a multiple statement macro. Multiple statement macros are not supported in Wasm and as a result, this command will not work in the MotherDuck Web UI when copying both schema and data. However, the command works in the MotherDuck Web UI if either the `(DATA)` option is specified or the `(SCHEMA)` option is specified. All other drivers support this command, including the DuckDB CLI.

:::caution No zero-copy clone
`COPY FROM DATABASE` creates a *physical* copy of both the schema and the data. It **does not** use MotherDuck's zero-copy cloning, so the operation may take longer to run and will consume additional storage proportional to the size of the source database. If you want to zero-copy clone a database, use the [`COPY FROM DATABASE (OVERWRITE)`](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/copy-database-overwrite.md) or the [`CREATE DATABASE ... FROM` statement](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/create-database.md).
:::

## Syntax

```sql
COPY FROM DATABASE <source_database> TO <target_database> [ (SCHEMA) | (DATA) ]
```

### Parameters

- `<source_database>`: The name or path of the source database to copy from
- `<target_database>`: The name or path of the target database to create
- `(SCHEMA)`: Optional parameter to copy only the database schema without data
- `(DATA)`: Optional parameter to copy only the database data without schema

## Example Usage

### Copy a MotherDuck database to a MotherDuck database

This is the same as [creating a new database from an existing one](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/create-database.md).

```sql
COPY FROM DATABASE my_db TO my_db_copy;
```

### Interacting with Local Databases

These operations can be done with access to the local filesystem, i.e. inside the DuckDB CLI.

#### Copy a local database to a MotherDuck database

```sql
ATTACH 'md:';

ATTACH 'local_database.db';

CREATE DATABASE md_database;

COPY FROM DATABASE local_database TO md_database;
```

#### Copy a MotherDuck database to a local database

To copy a MotherDuck database to a local database requires some extra steps.

```sql
ATTACH 'md:';

ATTACH 'local_database.db' as local_db;

COPY FROM DATABASE my_db TO local_db;
```

#### Copy a local database to a local database

To copy a local database to a local database, please see the [DuckDB documentation](https://duckdb.org/docs/stable/sql/statements/copy.html#copy-from-database--to).

### Copying the Database Schema

```sql
COPY FROM DATABASE my_db TO my_db_copy (SCHEMA);
```

This will copy the schema of the database, but not the data.

### Copying the Database Data

```sql
COPY FROM DATABASE my_db TO my_db_copy (DATA);
```

This will copy the data of the database, but not the schema.