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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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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 RAR file and why is it still widely used?
A RAR file is a compressed archive format created by Eugene Roshal, designed to offer high compression ratios, strong data recovery features, and multi-volume support. Unlike ZIP, which is an open standard, RAR uses proprietary compression algorithms that typically deliver smaller archives—especially for executables, software distributions, and large folders with mixed file types. This makes RAR extremely popular in software sharing, backup workflows, and long-term storage scenarios.
RAR’s structured container format supports advanced capabilities such as recovery records, error correction, split archives, encrypted headers, and strong password protection. These features make RAR a reliable choice for users who need to safeguard large archives or protect sensitive content against corruption or transfer errors.
Although the RAR format is proprietary and creation of RAR files requires WinRAR or compatible licensed tools, its extraction support is universal—nearly every archive utility can read RAR archives, ensuring broad accessibility across all major operating systems.
Why do RAR files often compress better than ZIP or 7Z in certain cases?
RAR uses highly optimized compression algorithms that perform predictive modeling and custom dictionary tuning on mixed data, which often results in smaller archives than ZIP and sometimes even competitive with 7Z depending on file type. Its compression engine is tuned for real-world mixed data sets, especially executables, installers, and structured binary files.
RAR’s solid compression mode groups similar files together so repetitive patterns across files are compressed as a single data stream, greatly improving overall efficiency. This is particularly effective for text-heavy datasets and large software directories.
RAR includes specialized filters such as delta compression and multimedia optimization that improve compression ratios for particular data types. These filters analyze data patterns and apply targeted pre-compression—the reason RAR often outperforms basic ZIP compression.
Why do some RAR files require multiple parts to extract?
Split archives—identified by extensions such as .part1.rar, .part2.rar, or .r00—allow large files to be broken into smaller pieces to fit storage media limits, upload constraints, or email attachment size caps.
Multi-volume archives also support easier recovery. If a single part becomes corrupted, only that segment needs to be replaced rather than the entire archive.
Splitting also improves portability, allowing users to store or transfer multi-gigabyte archives across different devices or services with strict file-size restrictions.
Why do some RAR files show ‘corrupted archive’ or extraction errors?
RAR archives may become corrupted during downloading, copying, or storage due to incomplete transfers, unstable internet connections, or damaged storage sectors.
If one part of a multi-volume archive is missing or renamed incorrectly, the entire extraction process may fail or produce file integrity warnings.
Archives without recovery records are more vulnerable to corruption. However, archives created with recovery data can often be repaired using WinRAR’s built-in repair tools.
Why are some RAR files extremely small while others barely compress?
Compression depends heavily on input file type. Text, logs, source code, and redundant binary files compress very well, while already-compressed files like MP4, MP3, JPEG, and PNG gain little to no size reduction.
RAR compression level settings influence final size. Maximum compression uses more CPU and time but can significantly reduce archive size, while fast compression trades efficiency for speed.
Solid compression dramatically affects file size—enabled archives shrink far smaller, while non-solid mode yields larger but faster-to-access results.
Is RAR secure for storing sensitive files?
Yes—RAR uses AES-256 encryption, offering extremely strong protection when a secure password is chosen. This level of encryption is resistant to brute-force attacks when passwords are sufficiently long and complex.
RAR can encrypt both file data and filenames, preventing unauthorized users from even seeing the contents of the archive structure.
Security depends entirely on the password strength. Weak or reused passwords compromise all encrypted archives regardless of encryption algorithm.
Why do RAR files sometimes extract slowly?
High compression levels require more CPU power to decompress. RAR’s compression algorithms can be computationally heavy, especially for large dictionaries or solid blocks.
Large solid archives must be scanned as a continuous block, meaning even extracting a single file may require reading massive segments of compressed data.
If the archive contains encrypted data, AES-256 decryption adds additional CPU overhead that slows extraction.
Does RAR perform well with large files or backups?
RAR is excellent for large backups because it supports recovery records, which allow archives to be partially restored in case of corruption.
Its multi-volume splitting makes storage across removable media or cloud services much easier, especially for large multi-gigabyte backups.
RAR also supports huge archive sizes and long file paths, making it a reliable option for modern large-scale datasets.
Can RAR files be repaired if damaged?
Yes—RAR offers one of the best repair systems among archive formats, thanks to optional recovery records that store redundant data.
Even without recovery records, WinRAR can attempt structural repairs, fixing damaged headers or rebuilding archive indexes.
Third-party tools or manual hex editing may salvage partial data, but successful recovery depends on the extent of corruption.
Why do some systems require WinRAR to create RAR files but not extract them?
RAR is a proprietary format. Only WinRAR and licensed libraries have legal permission to create RAR archives using the official algorithm.
Extraction libraries are widely licensed or reverse-engineered, making RAR extraction free and available in many tools like 7-Zip, PeaZip, and macOS tools.
This licensing model ensures RAR creation is controlled while extraction remains accessible to everyone.
Is the RAR format still relevant today?
Yes—RAR remains widely used due to its strong compression, excellent recovery options, and split-archive support, especially in technical and file-sharing communities.
Its repair and redundancy features make it one of the best formats for long-term storage and reliable archives.
Although free alternatives like 7Z exist, RAR continues to be preferred for scenarios requiring maximum reliability and error resistance.
Why do some RAR files ask for passwords even when they contain no encrypted data?
Some RAR files encrypt only the file list (headers), meaning the archive appears fully protected but may contain unencrypted content inside.
Incorrect extraction tools may misinterpret header data and prompt users unnecessarily for passwords.
Password-protected multi-volume archives always request a password before proceeding, even if early parts contain only structural data.
Why do certain RAR archives extract into empty folders or missing files?
Missing parts of a multi-volume archive prevent complete extraction—if one piece is absent, the resulting folder may appear empty.
Incorrect file ordering or renamed segments can stop the extraction process before files are written.
Corrupted headers or damaged solid blocks may cause the decompressor to exit early without producing output.
How does RAR compare to ZIP and 7Z?
RAR typically offers better error protection and data recovery capabilities compared to ZIP and often matches 7Z in practical compression scenarios.
RAR is more robust for backup workflows and multi-volume archiving because of its advanced redundancy and repair options.
However, ZIP is more universally supported and 7Z may achieve better compression on certain file types. RAR balances strength, speed, and reliability.
Should I choose RAR as my primary archive format?
RAR is ideal if you want reliable archiving with strong recovery features and balanced compression performance.
It is especially good for storing important files long-term or distributing large datasets in a controlled format.
However, because RAR creation is not fully open-source, users who prioritize open formats may prefer 7Z while casual users may prefer ZIP for compatibility.