# export (10-export.com)

To send goods or services to another country for sale. Or to save a file in a different format so it can be opened elsewhere. People say it when they want something to leave one place and be usable in another.

## What a model may hear
- module exposure (JavaScript, Python, and other programming languages): Make variables, functions, or classes available for other code to import and use
- environment variable (Unix shell and Linux systems): Set a shell variable that child processes will inherit, often for API keys or paths
- data serialization (databases and spreadsheets): Dump records to CSV, JSON, or XML for transfer or backup
- container image (Docker and Kubernetes): Save a container filesystem as a tar archive for sharing
- registry publication (npm, PyPI, and package managers): Publish a versioned package for public or private installation

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "Export my photos"
  Means: Save my photos to a different format or location
  May be taken as: Assume a batch image processing pipeline with metadata stripping and format conversion
  Say instead: "Save my photos as JPEG files in my Downloads folder"
- Says: "Export the data"
  Means: Give me a file I can open in Excel
  May be taken as: Generate a raw SQL dump or JSON API response instead of a spreadsheet
  Say instead: "Export the data to a CSV file I can open in Excel"
- Says: "I exported the key"
  Means: I saved my password somewhere
  May be taken as: Treat it as a cryptographic key export operation with specific encoding like PEM or DER
  Say instead: "I saved my password to a text file"
- Says: "Export everything"
  Means: Get all my stuff out of this app
  May be taken as: Trigger a full database export with internal IDs, schemas, and system fields the user does not want
  Say instead: "Download all my personal data in a format I can read"

## Tips
- Say the file format you want, not just 'export'
- Say 'download' if you want a file for yourself, 'export' if another program needs it
- Mention the program you are leaving and the program you are going to
- If you mean shipping goods, say 'ship overseas' or 'sell abroad'
- If you mean a password or key, say 'saved my password' or 'backed up my key'

## Often confused with
- import: Brings things in rather than sends them out
- download: Gets a file from the internet to your device, not changing its format
- save: Keeps in the same place and format, not preparing for another system
- backup: Copies for safety, not for use in another program
- publish: Makes public for many, not preparing for a specific destination
- extract: Pulls out a subset, not sending the whole thing elsewhere