Which backup type typically requires the most storage space?

A full backup requires the most storage space because it involves copying all the data from the source system in its entirety at a specific point in time. This includes all files, folders, applications, and system settings. Since the full backup captures everything, it typically generates a larger amount of data compared to other types of backups.

In contrast, an incremental backup only saves data that has changed since the last backup (either full or incremental), making it much smaller in size. A differential backup captures changes made since the last full backup, resulting in larger sizes than incremental backups, but still less than a full backup. Snapshot backups, depending on implementation, may also offer efficient storage usage as they track changes over time, but a full backup always remains the largest due to its comprehensive nature.