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
How TAR files work
Archive formats bundle multiple files into one container, usually with compression. Compression algorithms (DEFLATE for ZIP, LZMA for 7Z, Brotli, Zstandard) trade compression ratio for speed in different ways. Some archives support encryption (ZIP with AES, 7Z's built-in AES, RAR's strong AES); some support splitting into multi-part archives for media that has size limits; some preserve filesystem attributes that matter for backup integrity (Unix permissions, extended attributes, symlinks).
Best practices when working with TAR
ZIP for cross-platform sharing — it's the universal format and works everywhere. 7Z when compression ratio matters more than compatibility (typically 30-50% smaller than ZIP for code and text). TAR.GZ or TAR.XZ in Unix and scientific computing contexts where filesystem attribute preservation matters. Always verify archive integrity after extraction in pipelines that depend on it (CRC32 in ZIP is fast but weak; SHA-256 in modern formats is preferred). Don't store passwords in clear text inside the archive — separate password and content channels.
Convert to TAR
The most common formats people convert to TAR, ready to convert in seconds.
Convert TAR to other formats
Convert Tar Archive files into the format you actually need.
Choosing TAR versus the alternatives
ZIP: universal sharing, the right answer when you don't know what the recipient has. 7Z: smaller archives for code, documents, anything text-heavy; requires the recipient to have 7-Zip or compatible tooling. RAR: still common for media downloads, recovery records, multi-part archives; encoder is closed-source but extractors are universally available. TAR.GZ: Unix and Linux, source code releases, filesystem snapshots that need to preserve permissions. TAR.XZ: same use cases as TAR.GZ but with better compression at higher CPU cost.
Where TAR fits in real workflows
Archives appear at the seams of distribution: shipping a folder of files to someone, packaging a release artifact, backing up a directory tree. Choose the archive format based on what the recipient can extract — universal compatibility usually beats marginal compression gains.
Privacy and file handling
When you convert a TARfile with MegaConvert, the file is uploaded to our converter, processed, and automatically deleted within an hour. We don't train models on your files, share them with third parties, or retain them after the conversion completes. The download link expires when the file is removed. If your work involves files subject to NDA or compliance requirements (HIPAA, GDPR data processing), please review our privacy policy before uploading sensitive material.
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.
Have a TAR file you need to convert?
Free, instant, no signup. Files deleted within an hour of upload.
Convert TAR to GZ