---
layout: commands
page_title: 'Commands: Snapshot Decode'
description: |
  The `consul snapshot decode` command outputs a stream of line delimited JSON objects for an atomic, point-in-time snapshot of the state of the Consul servers. Output includes key/value entries, registered services in the catalog, prepared queries, sessions, and ACLs.
---

# Consul Snapshot Decode

Command: `consul snapshot decode`

The `snapshot decode` command is used to decode an atomic, point-in-time
snapshot of the state of the Consul servers which includes key/value entries,
service catalog, prepared queries, sessions, and ACLs. The snapshot is read
from the given file and decode to `stdout` as JSON data for interpretation and
review.

-> Typically this is used with Consul self-contained Snapshot files obtained
using the [`consul snapshot`](/consul/commands/snapshot) command or [Snapshot
API](/consul/api-docs/snapshot#generate-snapshot).

The JSON stream information format:

```json
  {"Type": "SnapshotHeader", "Data": {"<json encoded snapshot header>"}}
  {"Type": "<type name>","Data": {<json encoded data>}}
  {"Type": "<type name>","Data": {<json encoded data>}}
  ...
```

## Usage

Usage: `consul snapshot decode FILE`

## Examples

To decode a snapshot from the file "backup.snap":

```shell-session
$ consul snapshot decode backup.snap
{"Data":{"Version":1,"ID":"2-134-1713801971207","Index":134,"Term":2,"Peers":"ka4xMjcuMC4wLjE6ODMwMA==","Configuration":{"Servers":[{"Suffrage":0,"ID":"673f5fe3-0c2a-bef5-7719-c9ddbbc7a1c5","Address":"127.0.0.1:8300"}]},"ConfigurationIndex":1,"Size":20448157},"Type":"SnapshotHeader"}
{"Data":{"Name":"consul-support-namespace-1","Description":"Test namespace consul-support-namespace-1","CreateIndex":102,"ModifyIndex":102},"Type":"Namespace"}
{"Data":{"Name":"consul-support-namespace-10","Description":"Test namespace consul-support-namespace-10","CreateIndex":120,"ModifyIndex":120},"Type":"Namespace"}
{"Data":{"Name":"default","Description":"Builtin Default Partition","CreateIndex":4,"ModifyIndex":4},"Type":"Partition"}
{"Data":{"IP":"0.0.0.3","IsCounter":true},"Type":"FreeVirtualIP"}
{"Data":{"Datacenter":"dc2","ID":"df779ee7-c5ef-46d1-30cf-e46f0166cdf4","Node":"consul-server-dc2","Address":"127.0.0.2","TaggedAddresses":{"lan":"127.0.0.2","lan_ipv4":"127.0.0.2","wan":"127.0.0.2","wan_ipv4":"127.0.0.2"},"NodeMeta":{"consul-network-segment":"","consul-version":"1.18.0"},"Service":null,"Check":null,"Checks":null,"Locality":null,"SkipNodeUpdate":false,"PeerName":"dc2-peer","Partition":"default","Token":"","CreateIndex":40,"ModifyIndex":40},"Type":"Register"}
...
```


Please see the [HTTP API](/consul/api-docs/snapshot) documentation for
more details about snapshot internals.