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Supported Formats
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Common Formats
ZIP Archive - universal compression format developed by Phil Katz (1989) supporting multiple compression methods. Built into Windows, macOS, and Linux. Uses DEFLATE algorithm providing good compression (40-60% reduction) with fast processing. Supports file encryption, split archives, and compression levels. Maximum compatibility across all platforms and devices. Perfect for file sharing, email attachments, web downloads, and general-purpose compression. Industry standard with virtually universal software support including built-in OS tools, mobile apps, and command-line utilities.
RAR Archive - proprietary format by Eugene Roshal (1993) offering superior compression ratios (10-20% better than ZIP) through advanced algorithms. Popular on Windows with WinRAR software. Supports recovery records for damaged archive repair, solid compression for better ratios, strong AES encryption, and split archives up to 8 exabytes. Excellent for long-term storage, large file collections, and backup scenarios. Common in software distribution and file sharing communities. Requires WinRAR or compatible software (not built into most systems).
7-Zip Archive - open-source format by Igor Pavlov (1999) providing the best compression ratio available (20-40% better than ZIP, 10-15% better than RAR). Uses LZMA and LZMA2 algorithms with strong AES-256 encryption. Supports huge file sizes (16 exabytes), multiple compression methods, solid compression, and self-extracting archives. Free from licensing restrictions and patent concerns. Perfect for maximizing storage efficiency, software distribution, and backup archives where size matters. Requires 7-Zip or compatible software but offers exceptional space savings.
Unix Formats
TAR Archive - Tape Archive format from Unix (1979) bundling multiple files and directories into single file without compression. Preserves file permissions, ownership, timestamps, and symbolic links critical for Unix systems. Often combined with compression (TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ) for efficient distribution. Standard format for Linux software packages, system backups, and cross-platform file transfer. Essential for maintaining Unix file attributes. Works with streaming operations enabling network transfers and piping. Foundation of Unix/Linux backup and distribution systems.
GZIP/TGZ - GNU zip compression format (1992) using DEFLATE algorithm, standard compression for Linux and Unix systems. TGZ is TAR archive compressed with GZIP. Fast compression and decompression with moderate ratios (50-70% reduction for text). Single-file compression commonly paired with TAR for multi-file archives. Universal on Unix/Linux systems with built-in 'gzip' command. Perfect for log files, text data, Linux software distribution, and web server compression. Streaming-friendly enabling on-the-fly compression. Industry standard for Unix file compression since the 1990s.
BZIP2/TBZ2 - block-sorting compression format by Julian Seward (1996) offering better compression than GZIP (10-15% smaller) at the cost of slower processing. TBZ2 is TAR archive compressed with BZIP2. Uses Burrows-Wheeler transform achieving excellent ratios on text and source code. Popular for software distribution where size matters more than speed. Common in Linux package repositories and source code archives. Ideal for archival storage, software releases, and situations prioritizing compression over speed. Standard tool on most Unix/Linux systems.
XZ/TXZ - modern compression format (2009) using LZMA2 algorithm providing excellent compression ratios approaching 7Z quality. TXZ is TAR archive compressed with XZ. Superior to GZIP and BZIP2 with ratios similar to 7Z but as single-file stream. Becoming the new standard for Linux distributions and software packages. Supports multi-threading for faster processing. Perfect for large archives, software distribution, and modern Linux systems. Smaller download sizes for software packages while maintaining fast decompression. Default compression for many current Linux distributions.
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{format_tar_bz_desc}
{format_tar_lz_desc}
{format_tar_lzma_desc}
{format_tar_lzo_desc}
{format_tar_z_desc}
TGZ - TAR archive compressed with GZIP compression. Combines TAR's file bundling with GZIP's compression in single extension (.tgz instead of .tar.gz). Standard format for Linux software distribution and source code packages. Maintains Unix file permissions and attributes while reducing size 50-70%. Fast compression and decompression speeds. Universal compatibility on Unix/Linux systems. Perfect for software releases, backup archives, and cross-platform file transfer. Abbreviated form of TAR.GZ with identical functionality and structure.
TBZ2 - TAR archive compressed with BZIP2 compression. Better compression than TGZ (10-15% smaller) but slower processing. Uses Burrows-Wheeler block sorting for excellent text compression. Common in Linux distributions and software packages where size is critical. Maintains Unix file permissions and attributes. Perfect for source code distribution, archival storage, and bandwidth-limited transfers. Abbreviated form of TAR.BZ2 with identical functionality. Standard format for Gentoo Linux packages and large software archives.
TXZ - TAR archive compressed with XZ (LZMA2) compression. Modern format offering best compression ratios for TAR archives (better than TGZ and TBZ2). Fast decompression despite high compression. Supports multi-threading for improved performance. Becoming standard for Linux distributions (Arch, Slackware use TXZ). Maintains Unix permissions and symbolic links. Perfect for large software packages, system backups, and efficient storage. Abbreviated form of TAR.XZ representing the future of Unix archive compression.
LZMA/TAR.LZMA - Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain Algorithm compression format (2001) offering excellent compression ratios. TAR.LZMA combines TAR archiving with LZMA compression. Predecessor to XZ format using similar algorithm but older container format. Better compression than GZIP and BZIP2 but superseded by XZ/LZMA2. Still encountered in older Linux distributions and legacy archives. Slower compression than GZIP but better ratios (similar to XZ). Modern systems prefer TAR.XZ over TAR.LZMA. Legacy format for accessing older compressed archives from 2000s era.
LZO/TAR.LZO - Lempel-Ziv-Oberhumer compression format prioritizing speed over compression ratio. TAR.LZO is TAR archive compressed with LZO. Extremely fast compression and decompression (faster than GZIP) with moderate ratios (30-50% reduction). Popular in real-time applications, live systems, and scenarios requiring instant decompression. Used by some Linux kernels and embedded systems. Common in backup solutions prioritizing speed. Perfect for temporary compression, live CD/USB systems, and high-speed data transfer. Trade-off: larger files than GZIP/BZIP2/XZ but much faster processing.
Z/TAR.Z - Unix compress format from 1985 using LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) algorithm. TAR.Z is TAR archive compressed with compress command. Historical Unix compression format predating GZIP. Patent issues (until 2003) led to GZIP replacing it. Legacy format with poor compression by modern standards. Rarely used today except in very old Unix systems and historical archives. If you encounter .Z or .tar.Z files, convert to modern formats (TAR.GZ, TAR.XZ) for better compression and wider support. Important for accessing ancient Unix archives from 1980s-1990s.
Specialized Formats
ISO Image - ISO 9660 disk image format containing exact sector-by-sector copy of optical media (CD/DVD/Blu-ray). Standard format for distributing operating systems, software installations, and bootable media. Can be mounted as virtual drive without physical disc. Contains complete filesystem including boot sectors, metadata, and file structures. Essential for Linux distributions, system recovery media, and software archives. Used by burning software, virtual machines, and media servers. Universal standard with support in all major operating systems for mounting and burning.
Cabinet Archive - Microsoft's compression format for Windows installers and system files. Used extensively in Windows setup packages, driver installations, and system updates. Supports multiple compression algorithms (DEFLATE, LZX, Quantum), split archives, and digital signatures. Built into Windows with native extraction support. Common in software distribution for Windows applications, particularly older installers and Microsoft products. Maintains Windows-specific attributes and can store multiple files with folder structures. Part of Windows since 1996.
AR Archive - Unix archiver format (1970s) originally for creating library archives (.a files). Simple format storing multiple files with basic metadata (filename, modification time, permissions). Used primarily for static libraries in Unix development (.a extension). Foundation format for DEB packages (Debian packages are AR archives containing control and data). Minimal compression support (none by default). Essential for Unix library management and Debian package structure. Standard tool 'ar' included on all Unix/Linux systems. Simple and reliable for static file collections.
Debian Package - software package format for Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions. Contains compiled software, installation scripts, configuration files, and dependency metadata. Used by APT package manager (apt, apt-get commands). Actually a special AR archive containing control files and data archives. Essential format for Debian-based Linux software distribution. Includes pre/post-installation scripts, version management, and dependency resolution. Standard packaging for thousands of Ubuntu/Debian applications. Can be inspected and extracted as regular archive.
RPM Package - Red Hat Package Manager format for Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, SUSE, and derivative Linux distributions. Contains compiled software, installation metadata, scripts, and dependency information. Used by YUM and DNF package managers. Includes GPG signature support for security verification. Standard for Red Hat Enterprise Linux ecosystem. Supports pre/post-installation scriptlets, file verification, and rollback capabilities. Essential format for RHEL-based Linux software distribution. Can be extracted as archive to inspect contents without installation.
JAR Archive - Java Archive format based on ZIP compression for packaging Java applications. Contains compiled Java classes (.class files), application resources, and manifest metadata. Standard distribution format for Java applications and libraries. Supports digital signatures for code verification. Can be executable (runnable JAR files with Main-Class manifest). Perfect for Java application deployment, library distribution, and plugin systems. Compatible with ZIP tools but includes Java-specific features. Essential format for Java development and deployment since 1996.
ARJ Archive - legacy DOS compression format by Robert Jung (1991). Popular in DOS and early Windows era for its good compression ratio and ability to create multi-volume archives. Supports encryption, damage protection, and archive comments. Largely obsolete today, replaced by ZIP, RAR, and 7Z. Still encountered in legacy systems and old software archives. Requires ARJ or compatible decompression software. Historical format important for accessing old DOS/Windows archives from 1990s. Better converted to modern formats for long-term accessibility.
LHA Archive - Japanese compression format (also LZH) developed in 1988, extremely popular in Japan and with Amiga users. Uses LZSS and LZHUF compression algorithms providing good ratios. Common for Japanese software distribution in 1990s. Supports archive headers, directory structures, and file attributes. Legacy format now mostly replaced by modern alternatives. Still encountered in retro computing, Japanese software archives, and Amiga communities. Requires LHA/LZH compatible software for extraction. Important for accessing Japanese and Amiga software archives.
CPIO Archive - Copy In/Out archive format from Unix (1970s) for creating file archives. Simpler than TAR, often used for system backups and initramfs/initrd creation. Standard format for Linux initial RAM disk images. Supports multiple formats (binary, ASCII, CRC). Better handling of special files and device nodes than TAR. Common in system administration, bootloader configurations, and kernel initrd images. Universal on Unix/Linux systems. Essential for system-level archiving and embedded Linux systems. Works well for streaming operations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 7Z file and why is it considered one of the most efficient archive formats?
A 7Z file is a highly-compressed archive format created by the 7-Zip project. It uses the 7z container structure and typically relies on the LZMA or LZMA2 compression algorithms, which are among the most efficient general-purpose compression methods available. This allows 7Z archives to shrink large files—especially executables, disk images, documents, and redundant data—far smaller than formats like ZIP or RAR.
The 7Z format supports advanced features such as solid compression, which groups similar files together for dramatically higher efficiency, particularly for large collections of related files. This makes it especially strong for compressing folders with text files, source code, logs, or repetitive binary data.
Additionally, 7Z supports AES-256 encryption, multi-volume splitting, huge file sizes, and open-source tooling. Because 7z.exe and 7za.exe are widely available on Windows, Linux, and macOS, the format has become a preferred choice for technical users who want maximum compression with full control over settings.
Why does 7Z compress much smaller than ZIP or RAR?
7Z often achieves dramatically smaller results because it uses LZMA/LZMA2 algorithms, which feature large dictionaries, superior entropy coding, and dictionary-based compression optimized for repetitive structures. These methods outperform the older DEFLATE algorithm used by ZIP.
Another major factor is solid compression. Instead of compressing files individually, 7Z compresses multiple files as one continuous data block. This eliminates repetitive patterns and can shrink archives by 30–90% depending on file similarity.
7Z also allows adjustable compression levels, dictionary sizes up to gigabytes, and specialized filters that preprocess data (such as BCJ2 for executables), resulting in even tighter compression for certain file types.
Why do some 7Z files take a long time to extract?
High compression ratios require more CPU power to decompress, especially when the archive was created using maximum settings or a very large dictionary size. LZMA2 is efficient but computationally heavy.
Solid archives require reading large continuous data blocks, so extracting even a single file may require scanning through gigabytes of compressed data first.
Encrypted archives add AES-256 overhead, which increases both extraction time and CPU load. Older systems or mobile devices often struggle with large 7Z files for this reason.
Why can’t my computer open a 7Z archive?
Many operating systems lack native support for 7Z, so users must install third-party tools such as 7-Zip, PeaZip, WinRAR, or p7zip.
The archive may be created with settings unsupported by your extraction tool, such as unusual filters, massive dictionary sizes, or multi-threaded LZMA2 configurations.
Encrypted or corrupted archives may fail to open unless the correct password or a repair tool is used.
Why are some 7Z files so much smaller than others?
Compression strength depends heavily on file type. Text files compress extremely well, while media files like JPG, MP4, or MP3 compress very little because they are already compressed.
The compression level and dictionary size chosen during archive creation drastically affect final size. Maximum settings yield smaller archives but take much longer to process.
Using solid mode vs. non-solid mode can change results dramatically. Solid mode compresses related files together, reducing redundancy and producing far smaller archives.
Is the 7Z format safe and secure?
7Z supports AES-256, one of the strongest encryption standards available, making encrypted 7Z archives extremely secure against brute-force attacks.
Passwords protect both file content and filenames if the archive was created with “encrypt headers” enabled.
However, security depends entirely on the user choosing a strong password. Weak passwords make any encrypted archive vulnerable.
Why are 7Z archives sometimes corrupted?
Large solid blocks are more fragile—damage to one part of the block may affect multiple files during extraction.
Interrupted downloads or transfer errors can corrupt the 7Z container header, making the archive unreadable.
Hardware failures, bad sectors, or unsafe shutdowns during creation may cause incomplete or damaged archives.
Why does my system struggle with huge 7Z files?
7Z archives created with very large dictionaries require significant RAM to extract—sometimes multiple gigabytes—making them difficult to open on limited systems.
Solid compression forces the decompressor to load massive continuous blocks, increasing RAM and CPU usage.
Multi-threaded LZMA2 extraction may overload older CPUs or mobile devices that cannot handle the parallel workload.
Can 7Z files be repaired?
7-Zip includes basic repair tools that can rebuild broken headers or recover partial content depending on the type of corruption.
If the archive was split into multiple parts, missing pieces will prevent extraction but partial recovery may still be possible.
Specialized tools such as Recovery Toolbox or manual hex editing can sometimes repair container structures, but recovery is not guaranteed.
Why is 7Z popular among power users and developers?
The open-source nature of 7Z makes it fully transparent, extensible, and free for both personal and commercial use.
Its compression ratio is superior to ZIP and often better than RAR, making it ideal for reducing upload size and saving disk space.
It supports advanced filters like BCJ, Delta, and PPMD, giving developers fine-grained control over compression behavior.
Why do 7Z multi-part archives exist?
Splitting large archives allows them to fit on limited-size storage or upload services with file size restrictions.
Multi-part archives help prevent data corruption by isolating damage to a single segment instead of the full file.
Splits make large backups easier to distribute or store across different media.
Does 7Z work well on all operating systems?
Windows users can extract 7Z using 7-Zip, WinRAR, or other tools. Some OS versions include partial support.
Linux users rely on the p7zip package, which provides command-line and GUI utilities for full functionality.
macOS users can open 7Z files with tools like Keka, The Unarchiver, or BetterZip.
Why does creating a 7Z archive take so long?
Maximum compression settings require heavy CPU computation and large memory allocation.
Solid mode forces the compressor to analyze entire directory contents at once, drastically increasing processing time.
Large dictionary sizes result in better compression but take exponentially longer to compute.
Is the 7Z format future-proof?
Yes—the format is open, well-documented, and widely supported across major platforms, making long-term accessibility reliable.
Its compression algorithms remain competitive and are still considered state-of-the-art for general-purpose compression.
Even if 7-Zip evolves, the base 7Z specification is stable and backward compatible.
Should I use 7Z as my primary archive format?
If your priority is achieving the smallest possible file size, 7Z is one of the best choices available.
For long-term storage of text-heavy archives or developer projects, its efficiency and open design make it ideal.
However, for broad compatibility or business environments, ZIP may still be preferred—meaning 7Z is best for advanced users who value maximum compression and flexibility.