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Complete Archive & Compression Format Guide
Master file compression and archiving with ZIP, TAR, GZIP, and more.
ZIP Archives
- Universal format, all systems
- Single file with built-in compression
- Best for: File sharing, backup
- Compatibility: Excellent (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Max file: 4GB (ZIP64: up to 16EB)
TAR Archives
- Unix/Linux standard archiving tool
- Preserves file permissions & links
- Best for: Server backup, source code
- Usually combined with GZIP or BZIP2
- Format: tar, tar.gz, tar.bz2
GZIP Compression
- Standard Unix compression
- Often used with TAR (tar.gz)
- Best for: Websites, Linux systems
- Good compression ratio (20-30%)
- Single file compression only
When to Use Each Format
ZIP - Email & File Sharing
Perfect for sending files to anyone. No special software needed on Windows/Mac/Linux. Password protected option available. Use Level 6-9 for best compression.
TAR.GZ - Server Backups
Industry standard for server backup and source code distribution. Preserves file permissions critical for executable programs. 20-30% compression. Best for Unix/Linux systems.
BZIP2 - Maximum Compression
Better compression than GZIP (10-20% improvement) but slower. Used for large archives and long-term storage. Common on software repositories.
Compression Level Explained
Level 0-3: Fast
- Processing: Very fast
- Compression: Low (10-20%)
- Best for: Quick archiving
- Use: Already compressed files
Level 4-6: Balanced
- Processing: Medium speed
- Compression: Good (30-40%)
- Best for: Most situations
- Default: Recommended for general use
Level 7-9: Maximum
- Processing: Slower (can take minutes)
- Compression: Best (40-50%+)
- Best for: Long-term storage
- Use: Large files, backup archives
Archive & Compression FAQ
What's the difference between ZIP and TAR.GZ?▼
ZIP is universal (Windows/Mac/Linux), one step, includes compression. TAR.GZ is two steps (archive + compress), preserves Unix permissions, best for Linux/servers. Use ZIP for general file sharing, TAR.GZ for Linux systems.
How much can I compress files?▼
Compression ratio depends on file types: Text 70-90%, Images 20-30%, Videos 5-15% (already compressed). Use Level 6-9 for maximum compression. Multiple files compress better than single files.
Can I password protect ZIP files?▼
Yes! ZIP supports password protection. When creating an archive, option to add password. Use strong password for sensitive files. Share password separately from the file for security.
How do I create a TAR.GZ file?▼
Select files, choose TAR as format, optionally add GZIP compression. On Linux, use: tar -czf archive.tar.gz files/. Perfect for backing up directories and source code while preserving permissions.
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