tar.gz file to current working directory and print output: tar -xvf Īgain, the above commands will extract to the current working directory by default. Like many Linux commands, one of these is a verbose output ( -v) that prints the extracted files to the terminal window:Įxtract. The tar command also comes with several other options. Note that this command also works with other common compression formats such as. This command will extract ( -x) the file ( -f) specified (in this case, ) to the current directory. tar.gz file to current working directory: tar -xf Then enter the following command:Įxtract. tar files using the tar utility.įor the simplest method, begin by opening the terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) and navigate to the directory of the. While the tar utility is enough for most purposes, you’ll need the gzip utility to create. Most Linux distributions and macOS include built-in tools for zipping and unzipping. tar.gz files in Linux, macOS, and Windows. Otherwise, keep reading to learn how to unzip. tar.gz files, check out the end of the article for some quick tips on extracting. tar.zst ( zstd), among many others.Īs we’ll see later, different compression utilities may require different methods for extracting and unzipping files. tar file will result in a different double extension. As you might imagine, using a different compression utility on a. Though gzip is the most common compression utility, it’s not the only one. Using gzip for compression is what gives the file a “.gz” double extension. tar file that’s been compressed or “zipped” using the gzip utility. As a result, one isn’t necessarily better than the other - it’s all a matter of application. tar files are less accessible but more space-efficient. zip files are more accessible but less space-efficient, while. Technical details aside, all you need to remember is that. If that’s not entirely clear, don’t worry. In other words, compressing files as a single group allows for more efficient compression methods, thereby saving space and reducing the overall size of the file. tar files are compressed as a single entity rather than a group of individually compressed files, compression utilities can group similarities between files and cut down on space. tar.gz is only accessible after extracting the entire file. zip are compressed individually, they can also be accessed individually. However, there are some pretty major differences when it comes to accessing data within the files and the compression efficiency. tar.gz files will allow you to send relatively large packages as a single file. tar files are a compressed collection of files.īut does the compression method really matter, especially if both methods technically produce compressed files? zip files are a collection of compressed files, while. tar files are compressed as a single package, leaving its files uncompressed. zip files consist of many individually compressed files. zip automatically compresses each file within the collection.īy now, you’ve probably noticed the major difference between.

Rather than use a separate compression utility to compress the entire collection. zip file is a collection of compressed files. As we’ll see later, one popular compression utility is gzip, which compresses a. tar doesn’t compress anything, it requires a separate compression utility for compression. tar file is a collection of uncompressed files, sometimes known as a tarball. Rather, they both accomplish the same task ( file compression) in the same way. tar files are some kind of “lesser” format than. tar files - at least not in ways that are easy to notice. zip files, the same can’t really be said for. Where most operating systems make it easy to extract and create. tar.gz files in Linux and Windows with help from this guide 🚀 Click to Tweet. Compressing and extracting files isn’t always intuitive. tar comes with a few extra features that make it the better compression format for certain files and applications. tar in the first place? As we’ll see in the next section. zip being the easier of the two to use, why use. As a result, it’s become a common file extension for many open-source software packages and other resources.īut with. tar files compress large files into a single package, making it easier to store and send them through email, servers, and so on. tar files even have anything to do with old computers. Thankfully, you don’t need to be a 1960s computer technician to use and extract. Short for “ Tape ARchive,” the name “TAR” is a throwback to when files were stored on magnetic tape drives. A “.tar” file is a collection of files compressed into a single file or archive.

Lzip decompress