> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nuvolos.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nuvolos.com/how-to-guides/common-workflows/snapshots/create-a-snapshot.md).

# Create a snapshot

<mark style="color:$primary;">**Outcome**</mark>\
You preserve the complete Current state of an instance - files, tables, and application configurations - as an immutable, time-stamped record.

<mark style="color:$primary;">**Before you start**</mark>

* You are in the Current state of the instance you want to snapshot.
* You hold the **Instance Editor** role or higher in the instance.
* All work you want to preserve has been saved (snapshots capture what is on disk, not what is in memory).

A snapshot captures the complete Current state of an instance as an immutable, time-stamped record. There are two ways to create one:

* **Quick snapshot** - captures the Current state with the timestamp as the snapshot name. Use this when you want a safety net before a risky operation and don't need to find the snapshot by name later.
* **Detailed snapshot** - captures the Current state with a user-provided name and description. Use this when you want a named record of a meaningful state ("end of term", "v1.0 final analysis", "before final submission") that you can find later by name.

### **Create a quick snapshot**

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the space containing the instance.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Make sure you are viewing the Current State of an instance.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
From the left sidebar, hover on the camera icon and click on **QUICK SNAPSHOT**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Create a detailed snapshot

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the space containing the instance.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Make sure you are viewing the current state of an instance.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
From the left sidebar, hover on the camera icon and click on **TAKE SNAPSHOT AND DESCRIBE**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Fill in the snapshot name and description form. Snapshot names need to be unique in an instance.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **+ ADD SNAPSHOT**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Snapshots are created almost instantaneously. Refresh the page before creating another snapshot - the UI may otherwise prevent the second creation.
{% endhint %}

### Role-specific notes

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🎓 For instructors" %}
Date- or term-based names work well for course archives ("2025-spring-final", "end-of-term-stats101"). Detailed snapshots are worth the extra effort here because you'll be looking for them next term when reusing the course.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="📖 For students" %}
Quick snapshots are usually sufficient. Take one before starting an assignment session and another before submitting. If you take a detailed snapshot, descriptive task-based names ("before final submission", "after Tuesday's lab") are easier to identify than dates.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="🔬 For researchers" %}
Detailed snapshots representing stable, citable states of the data or analysis are often called vintages - convention from the Nuvolos team. Names like "v1.0 - final analysis 2026-05" make snapshots easy to reference in handovers and papers.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}