About the Zip file format
- Name
- Zipped File
- Extension
- .zip
- Format
- Binary
- Category
- Compressed
- Developer
- Phil Katz
- Description
- A ZIP file is an archive that contains one or more files compressed or "zipped" using Zip compression. It stores files separately from each other allowing the files to be compressed using different methods and extracted without compressing or decompressing the entire archive.
- MIME Type
- application/zip
- Sample
- sample.zip
- Wikipedia
- .zip on Wikipedia
Zip file format was designed by both Phil Katz of PKWARE and Gary Conway of the Infinity Design Concept. The format was formed after the initially used format failed its file archiving operations. Their main intention was creating a file that would be faster than similar preexisting files.
A zipped file is made up of many files put together. The file is mainly used in making big files smaller. Zip file format is used for sending emails or sending files over the internet. Compression of files in Zip files is done using several compression Algorithms including the Optimized Deflate algorithm.
It is also used to backup multiple files. This makes it ideal for archiving as you can keep related files together. The file allows one to extract a file of interest at a particular time without having to extract an entire file or even compressing it in the archive.
The file extension .zip is used for this file format. The files use a directory that enables one to tell the specific location of a particular file. The directory is generally placed at the end of the files. Zip files allow sharing of many files across numerous archive systems.
Microsoft has adopted the Zip file in Microsoft Windows using the name compressed files. Most operating systems support the ZIP format makin it the ideal format for file distribution and long term archiving puposes.
