ZIP Files Demystified: The Ultimate Guide to Compressing and Extracting Like a Pro
This is an archive format that can hold files and folders
- A ZIP file is a compressed archive file.
- Double-click to open one in Windows or macOS, or use 7-Zip.
- Convert ZIP to TAR, 7Z, CAB, LZH, etc., at Zamzar.com.
This article describes what ZIP files are and why they're used in some situations. We'll also look at how to open one to see its contents, and how to convert the files inside to a different format, or convert the ZIP itself to another archive format like TAR.GZ or RAR.
What Is a ZIP File?
A file with the ZIP file extension is a ZIP compressed file and is the most widely used archive format you'll run into. Like other archive file formats, this one is simply a collection of one or more files and/or folders, but is compressed into a single file for easy transportation and compression.
ZIP File Uses
The most common use for ZIP files is for software downloads. Zipping a software program saves storage space on the server, decreases the time it takes for you to download it to your computer, and keeps the hundreds or thousands of files nicely organized in a single file.
Another example can be seen when downloading or sharing dozens of photos. Instead of sending each image individually over email or saving each image one by one from a website, the sender can put the files in a ZIP archive so that only one file needs to be transferred.
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