The present application provides a data processing method and apparatus. The method includes: when a region in a table of a database system meets a predefined condition, saving data in the region as a data storage file to a storage device, where the data storage file includes time metadata, and the time metadata comprises a region write time of the data in the region; when a condition for triggering a combination operation is met, obtaining a time for performing a backup operation most recently; selecting at least two first data storage files, where a region write time recorded in time metadata included in the at least two first data storage files is before the obtained time; and combining the selected at least two first data storage files, therefore resolving a problem in the prior art that a time consumed for performing a backup operation is long.