Gzipped Tar Archive (.TAR.GZ)
TAR.GZ (also written as .tgz) combines the TAR archival format with gzip compression, creating a compressed archive of multiple files and directories. This two-step process first bundles files into a TAR archive preserving Unix permissions and structure, then compresses the result with gzip. TAR.GZ is the most common archive format on Unix and Linux systems.
Advantages of Gzipped Tar Archive
What the TAR.GZ format does well, and why you might choose it.
- Standard archive format on Unix/Linux with universal tool support
- Preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, and symbolic links
- Good balance of compression speed and ratio for general use
Limitations of Gzipped Tar Archive
What the TAR.GZformat doesn't do well, and when to choose another format.
- Cannot extract individual files without decompressing the entire archive
- Less efficient compression than tar.bz2 or tar.xz
- Not natively supported in Windows without third-party tools
What TAR.GZ files are used for
- Linux and Unix source code and software distribution
- System administration backup archives
- Open-source project release packaging
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Frequently asked questions about TAR.GZ
What is a .TAR.GZ file?
TAR.GZ (also written as .tgz) combines the TAR archival format with gzip compression, creating a compressed archive of multiple files and directories. This two-step process first bundles files into a TAR archive preserving Unix permissions and structure, then compresses the result with gzip. TAR.GZ is the most common archive format on Unix and Linux systems.
What is the MIME type of TAR.GZ?
The official MIME type for TAR.GZ files is application/gzip. This is the value web servers and applications use to identify the format when transferring files.
What category does TAR.GZ belong to?
TAR.GZ is a Archive Converter format. Files in this category share common conversion paths and use cases.
How do I open a .TAR.GZ file?
TAR.GZ files are typically opened by software that natively supports the Gzipped 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 Gzipped Tar Archive files convert to widely-supported alternatives in seconds.
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