TAR.XZ File – What is .tar.xz file and how to open it?

TAR.XZ File Overview

A TAR.XZ file is an archive file format that combines multiple files into a single compressed package. It consists of two layers of compression: the first layer is TAR (Tape Archive), which bundles files together, and the second layer is XZ (LZMA2), which is a lossless data compression algorithm. TAR.XZ archives are commonly used for software distribution, backups, and data storage due to their ability to significantly reduce file size while maintaining data integrity.

Technical Details

TAR.XZ files are created using the XZ Utils compression suite, which includes both the TAR and XZ components. The TAR format is responsible for grouping files into a single archive, preserving file attributes such as permissions, ownership, and timestamps. The XZ compression algorithm then applies LZMA2 to reduce the overall size of the archive, achieving high compression ratios while ensuring data integrity. The resulting TAR.XZ file can be decompressed and extracted using compatible software, such as tar or 7-Zip, which supports both TAR and XZ formats.

Opening a TAR.XZ File on Windows

To open a TAR.XZ file on a Windows machine, you will need to install a decompression tool that supports the XZ format. One popular option is 7-Zip, which is a free and open-source file archiver that can handle a wide variety of compressed file formats, including TAR.XZ. Once you have installed 7-Zip, you can simply right-click on the TAR.XZ file and select “Extract Here” from the context menu. This will extract the contents of the archive to the current directory.

Opening a TAR.XZ File on MacOS

On a Mac, you can use the built-in Archive Utility to open TAR.XZ files. Simply double-click on the TAR.XZ file, and Archive Utility will automatically decompress and extract the contents. You can also use the Terminal application to extract TAR.XZ files. To do this, open the Terminal application and navigate to the directory where the TAR.XZ file is located. Then, type the following command:

bash
tar -xJf tar.xz


This will extract the contents of the TAR.XZ file to the current directory.

Opening a TAR.XZ File on Linux

On Linux, you can use the tar command to open TAR.XZ files. To do this, open a terminal window and navigate to the directory where the TAR.XZ file is located. Then, type the following command:

bash
tar -xJf tar.xz


This will extract the contents of the TAR.XZ file to the current directory.

History and Development of TAR.XZ

The TAR.XZ format was introduced in 2010 as an extension to the traditional TAR (Tape Archive) format. It utilizes the XZ compression algorithm, which was created by Tukaani and released in 2007. XZ is a high-performance lossless data compression algorithm known for its speed and compression ratio, making it suitable for creating compact archives with minimal data loss. The combination of TAR for file packaging and XZ for compression resulted in the TAR.XZ format, offering efficient archival and data storage.

Technical Details and Features of TAR.XZ

TAR.XZ files are characterized by their compact size due to the effective XZ compression. The algorithm employs a combination of LZMA2 and CRC32 checksum for data integrity, providing a high level of compression while ensuring the integrity of archived files. Unlike TAR files, which can only be compressed using separate compression programs, TAR.XZ combines both packaging and compression into a single format. This simplifies the process of archiving and extracting files, as the TAR.XZ format is natively supported by various operating systems and software utilities. The hierarchical structure of TAR files is preserved within TAR.XZ archives, ensuring efficient file organization and easy extraction of individual files or directories.

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