> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://alphacastio.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Data Snapshot

> Capture the pipeline output as a downloadable, embeddable snapshot in CSV, XLSX or TSV.

**Data Snapshot** is one of the pipeline's output steps. It takes a snapshot of the data as it stands at that point in the pipeline.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/alphacastio/ttF_U-V9HDrmrPbo/images/steps/data-snapshot-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ttF_U-V9HDrmrPbo&q=85&s=0cd8f602ce600ee5d025063def71ea2d" alt="Data Snapshot step in the pipeline editor" width="622" height="174" data-path="images/steps/data-snapshot-1.png" />
</Frame>

The step provides a download link, a code snippet for embedding the data on a website or in an insight, and optionally an excerpt of the pipeline result. Links are available in CSV, XLSX and TSV.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/alphacastio/ttF_U-V9HDrmrPbo/images/steps/data-snapshot-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ttF_U-V9HDrmrPbo&q=85&s=d5533b2f3934df60d16cbb2c1ccc4b6f" alt="Download and embed options for a data snapshot" width="1335" height="370" data-path="images/steps/data-snapshot-2.png" />
</Frame>

<Note>
  A snapshot is a point-in-time capture. If you need output that stays current as sources update, use [Publish dataset](/steps/publish) instead.
</Note>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Publish dataset" icon="upload" href="/steps/publish">
    Produce an auto-updating dataset rather than a snapshot.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Chart data" icon="chart-simple" href="/steps/chart-data">
    Visualize the same output.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>