Tar Archive (.TAR)
TAR (Tape Archive) is a Unix archive format that bundles multiple files and directories into a single file while preserving file permissions, ownership, timestamps, and symbolic links. TAR itself performs no compression; it is purely an archival format. TAR is almost always used in combination with a compression tool like gzip, bzip2, or xz to create compressed archives.
Advantages of Tar Archive
What the TAR format does well, and why you might choose it.
- Preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, symbolic links, and timestamps
- Standard archival format on all Unix and Linux systems
- Extremely simple and reliable format with decades of proven use
Limitations of Tar Archive
What the TARformat doesn't do well, and when to choose another format.
- No built-in compression; must be combined with a separate compression tool
- No random access to individual files without reading the entire archive
- No built-in encryption or password protection
What TAR files are used for
- Linux and Unix software distribution and source code packaging
- System backup and file archival on Unix platforms
- Bundling files before applying compression with gzip, bzip2, or xz
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Frequently asked questions about TAR
What is a .TAR file?
TAR (Tape Archive) is a Unix archive format that bundles multiple files and directories into a single file while preserving file permissions, ownership, timestamps, and symbolic links. TAR itself performs no compression; it is purely an archival format. TAR is almost always used in combination with a compression tool like gzip, bzip2, or xz to create compressed archives.
What is the MIME type of TAR?
The official MIME type for TAR files is application/x-tar. This is the value web servers and applications use to identify the format when transferring files.
What category does TAR belong to?
TAR is a Archive Converter format. Files in this category share common conversion paths and use cases.
How do I open a .TAR file?
TAR files are typically opened by software that natively supports the Tar Archiveformat. If you don't have a compatible application, the most reliable approach is to convert the file to a more universal format using the converters listed above. Most Tar Archive files convert to widely-supported alternatives in seconds.
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