Downloading MySQL dump from command line

You can accomplish this using the mysqldump command-line function.

For example:

If it's an entire DB, then:

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name > db_backup.sql

If it's all DBs, then:

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p --all-databases > all_db_backup.sql

If it's specific tables within a DB, then:

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name table1 table2 > table_backup.sql

You can even go as far as auto-compressing the output using gzip (if your DB is very big):

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name | gzip > db_backup.sql.gz

If you want to do this remotely and you have the access to the server in question, then the following would work (presuming the MySQL server is on port 3306):

   $ mysqldump -P 3306 -h [ip_address] -u [uname] -p db_name > db_backup.sql

It should drop the .sql file in the folder you run the command-line from.

EDIT: Updated to avoid inclusion of passwords in CLI commands, use the -p option without the password. It will prompt you for it and not record it.

In latest versions of mysql, at least in mine, you cannot put your pass in the command directly.

You have to run:

mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name > db_backup.sql

and then it will ask for the password.

If downloading from remote server, here is a simple example:

mysqldump -h my.address.amazonaws.com -u my_username -p db_name > /home/username/db_backup_name.sql

The -p indicates you will enter a password, it does not relate to the db_name. After entering the command you will be prompted for the password. Type it in and press enter.