This function starts a backup of the document root of the domain parameter and returns an operationId return value immediately.

Note:

• A detached background process writes the archive, so a large backup never holds the request open.
• Pass the operationId return value to the WebsiteBackup::operation_status function to poll progress and read the terminal state. The WebsiteBackup::list_operations function recovers the id if the client loses it.
• Pre-flight checks run synchronously and fail this call. The account must own the domain, no other backup or restore may be running for the account, each named database must be a safe single path component, and the estimated archive must fit in the remaining disk quota.
• The function records anything that goes wrong after it backgrounds the work in the operation log, and reports it through the WebsiteBackup::operation_status function.
• The operation runs under a two-hour wall-clock cap. Exceeding that cap fails the operation.
• This function requires the account's backup feature and is unavailable to demo (shared) accounts.

{
  "database": [
    "user_wordpress",
    "user_store"
  ],
  "domain": "example.com",
  "email": "user@example.com"
}

{
  "apiversion": 3,
  "func": "create_backup",
  "module": "WebsiteBackup",
  "result": {
    "data": {
      "operationId": "2026-08-18T12:53:12Z.1"
    },
    "status": 1
  }
}