What is a TAR file?
TAR — Unix archive
What is it?
TAR doesn't compress anything. It simply strings files together into a single file, preserving their permissions, timestamps, and folder structure. A TAR file therefore ends up the same size as the sum of its contents.
This is why you almost always see it paired with something else: a .tar.gz file is a TAR archive that has then been run through gzip. Two tools, two steps, each doing its own job.
History & origin
TAR was born in 1979 in the Unix world, and its name says it all about its original purpose: "tape archive," for storing data on magnetic tape.
This approach — bundle first, compress afterward — has remained standard practice on Linux and macOS for forty-five years.
Why it is useful
It scrupulously preserves permissions, links, and timestamps, something ZIP handles poorly — a decisive advantage when backing up a system.
It can be paired with any compression tool, depending on whether you prioritize speed or compression ratio.
Limits & drawbacks
On its own, it saves no space at all.
Windows doesn't handle it natively, and extracting a single file means scanning through the entire archive.
Practical tips
If you receive a .tar.gz file, convert it to ZIP: you'll get an archive that opens with a simple double-click on any PC.
TAR remains the right choice for backing up Linux files, since it preserves their permissions — something ZIP would lose.
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