Oracle Data Pump Export utility is a standalone programs that allows you to export data objects from Oracle database to operating system files called dump file set, which can be imported back to Oracle database only by Oracle Data Pump Import utility.

The dump file set can be imported on the same system or it can be moved to another system and loaded there.

The dump file set is made up of one or more disk files that contain table data, database object metadata, and control information. The files are written in a proprietary, binary format. During an import operation, the Data Pump Import utility uses these files to locate each database object in the dump file set. Because the dump files are written by the server, rather than by the client, the data base administrator (DBA) must create directory objects.