How does a differential backup compare to an incremental backup?

A differential backup specifically captures all changes made since the last full backup, ensuring that every modification is backed up. This means that if a full backup was done on a certain date, the differential backup will include all files that have been changed or added since that full backup was created, regardless of any incremental backups that may have occurred after that full backup.

In contrast, an incremental backup only captures changes made since the last backup of any kind, which could be the last full backup or the last incremental backup. This leads to smaller backup sizes for incremental backups compared to differential backups since each incremental backup only contains changes made since the last one.

This distinction in how the backups are conducted affects the restore process as well. To restore a set of files from a differential backup, only the full backup and the most recent differential backup are required. For incremental backups, all incremental backups must be combined with the last full backup to restore the complete dataset effectively.

Thus, the definition and function of a differential backup in comparison to an incremental one make the provided answer accurate.