Explain the difference between .PST and .OST files. How do you back up Outlook data?

Let’s break this down! I’ll explain the difference between .PST and .OST files and how to back up your Outlook data.

Feature	.PST (Personal Storage Table)	.OST (Offline Storage Table)
Purpose	Stores emails, contacts, calendar items, and tasks for POP3 and IMAP accounts.	Stores a synchronized copy of your mailbox (for Exchange, Outlook.com, or IMAP accounts).
Offline Access	Can be used on any computer (portable).	Designed for offline access and automatically syncs with the mail server when reconnected.
Location	Created manually or through Outlook export.	Created automatically by Outlook when connected to a server.
Backup/Restore	Used for backups and transferring Outlook data.	Not ideal for backups—if deleted, Outlook rebuilds it from the server.
Editable	Can be imported into any Outlook profile.	Tied to a specific Outlook profile and email account.