# mongodump > Utility to export the contents of a MongoDB instance. > More information: . - Create a dump of all databases (this will place the files inside a directory called "dump"): `mongodump` - Specify an output location for the dump: `mongodump --out {{path/to/directory}}` - Create a dump of a given database: `mongodump --db {{database_name}}` - Create a dump of a given collection within a given database: `mongodump --collection {{collection_name}} --db {{database_name}}` - Connect to a given host running on a given port, and create a dump: `mongodump --host {{host}} --port {{port}}` - Create a dump of a given database with a given username; user will be prompted for password: `mongodump --username {{username}} {{database}} --password`