What type of backup saves only the changes made since the last backup?

An incremental backup saves only the changes made since the last backup was performed, regardless of the type of backup it was. This means that after an initial full backup is completed, an incremental backup will only include the data that has changed or been created since the most recent backup, whether that was a full backup or another incremental backup. This approach is efficient in terms of storage and speed because it reduces the amount of data that needs to be backed up during each backup session, allowing for quicker backups and less storage space used.

In contrast, a full backup captures all selected data and files in one go, while a differential backup saves all changes made since the last full backup. A snapshot backup typically refers to a point-in-time representation of the data, capturing its state at a specific moment, which may not focus on just the changes since the last backup. Understanding these distinctions helps to identify the advantages of each backup strategy in data management and recovery scenarios.