TAR.Z File – What is .tar.z file and how to open it?
TAR.Z File Extension
Zipped Tarball File – file format by The GNU Project
TAR.Z, also known as a Zipped Tarball File, is a compressed archive file format developed by The GNU Project. It combines a TAR (Tape Archive) file with a ZLIB compression algorithm, resulting in a single file with the .tar.z extension. It is commonly used for archiving and distributing multiple files or directories in a compressed format.
Essence of a TAR.Z File
A TAR.Z file combines the functionalities of two compression techniques: tar and gzip. Tar is a popular archiving utility that bundles multiple files into a single archive, while gzip is a compression algorithm that reduces file size for efficient storage. By combining the two, TAR.Z offers the advantage of compacting numerous files into a compressed archive, making it a suitable format for distributing software packages and data sets.
Technical Underpinnings of TAR.Z
The TAR.Z format employs a two-step process of data compression. Initially, the files are bundled together using the tar utility, creating a tar archive file (.tar). Subsequently, the tar archive is compressed using gzip, resulting in a TAR.Z file (.tar.z). This two-step approach optimizes data compression, reducing the size of the archive by leveraging the strengths of both methods.
What is a TAR.Z file?
A TAR.Z file is a compressed archive that contains one or more files. It is created using the tar command, which is a standard Unix utility for creating and extracting archives. The .Z suffix indicates that the tarball has been compressed using the compress program.
TAR.Z files are often used to distribute software and other files over the internet. They are also used to back up data.
How to open a TAR.Z file
There are several ways to open a TAR.Z file. One way is to use the tar command. The following command will extract the contents of a TAR.Z file:
tar -xzf tarball.tar.z
Another way to open a TAR.Z file is to use a graphical file manager. Many file managers, such as File Roller and Archive Manager, can open and extract TAR.Z files.
Additional information
TAR.Z files are not as common as they once were. This is because there are now better compression algorithms available, such as gzip and bzip2. However, TAR.Z files are still used in some cases, such as when distributing software over the internet.
What is a TAR.Z File?
A TAR.Z file is a compressed archive file that combines the features of TAR (Tape Archive) and GZIP (GNU Zip) compression algorithms. TAR is a file archiving utility used to create a single file containing multiple files or directories. GZIP is a lossless data compression algorithm that reduces the size of a file without compromising its integrity. By combining these two technologies, TAR.Z files offer a compact and efficient way to store and distribute large datasets.
Uses and Applications of TAR.Z Files
TAR.Z files are commonly used in operating systems such as Linux, Unix, and macOS to package and distribute software applications, system updates, and other large files. They are also employed in data backup and storage scenarios, where it is desirable to reduce file sizes while maintaining data integrity. Additionally, TAR.Z files are often used for extracting and viewing compressed archives in command-line environments or via graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that support archive management.