# Snapshots

Snapshots are immutable, point-in-time copies of an [instance's](https://docs.nuvolos.com/nuvolos-basic-concepts/organisational-hierarchy#instances) current state. For background on what snapshots capture and why they matter, see [Snapshots (concept)](https://docs.nuvolos.com/features/nuvolos-basic-concepts/snapshots).

This section covers the practical actions you can perform with snapshots:

* [**Create a snapshot**](https://docs.nuvolos.com/features/snapshots/create-a-snapshot) — save the current state of an instance as an immutable record (quick or detailed).
* [**Delete a snapshot**](https://docs.nuvolos.com/features/snapshots/delete-a-snapshot) — permanently remove a snapshot to free up storage.
* [**Restore from a snapshot**](https://docs.nuvolos.com/features/snapshots/restore-a-snapshot) — replace the current state of an instance with the contents of a snapshot, either in the same instance or in a different one.
* **Create an instance from a snapshot** — spawn a new instance pre-populated with the contents of an existing snapshot, useful for onboarding new team members or setting up student environments.
* **Distribute from a snapshot** — push selected files, tables, or applications from a snapshot to another location using [object distribution](https://docs.nuvolos.com/features/object-distribution). This allows partial restores or sharing specific artefacts without overwriting an entire instance.