This is a list of file formats used by archivers and compressors used to create archive files.
Archive formats by purpose Archive formats are used for backups, mobility, and archiving. Many archive formats losslessly compress the data to consume less storage space and result in faster transfer times as the same data is represented by fewer bytes. Another benefit is that files are combined into one archive file which has less overhead for managing or transferring. Archive formats are used by Unix-like and Windows operating systems to package software for easier distributing and installing than binary executables.
Archiving only File extension(s)MIME typeOfficial namePlatformDescription.a, .ar application/Unix ArchiverUnix-likeThe traditional archive format on Unix-like systems, now used mainly for the creation of static libraries..cpio application/cpioUnix-likeRPM files consist of metadata concatenated with (usually) a cpio archive. Newer RPM systems also support other archives, as cpio is becoming obsolete. cpio is also used with initramfs..shar application/Shell archiveUnix-likeA self-extracting archive that uses the Bourne shell (sh)..LBR.LBRCP/M DOSA system for storing multiple files. LBR archives typically contained files processed by SQ, or the archive itself was compressed with SQ. LBR archives that were compressed with SQ ended with the extension .LQR.iso application/ISO-9660 image An archive format originally used mainly for archiving and distribution of the exact, nearly-exact, or custom-modified contents of an optical storage medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. However, it can be used to archive the contents of other storage media, selected partitions, folders, and/or files. The resulting archive is typically optimized for convenient rendering to (re-)writable CD or DVD media..lbrCommodore 64/128A library format used primarily on the Commodore 64 and 128 lines of computers. This bears no resemblance to the DOS LBR format. While library files were quick to implement (a number of programs exist to work with them) they are crippled in that they cannot grow with use: once a file has been created it cannot be amended (files added, changed or deleted) without recreating the entire file..marMozilla ARchive An archive format used by Mozilla for storing binary diffs. Used in conjunction with bzip2..sbx application/SeqBox A single file container/archive that can be reconstructed even after total loss of file system structures..tar application/Tape archiveUnix-likeA common archive format used on Unix-like systems. Generally used in conjunction with compressors such as gzip, bzip2, compress or xz to create .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .tar.Z or tar.xz files.
Compression only File extension(s)MIME typeOfficial namePlatformDescription.br application/BrotliallBrotli is a compression algorithm developed by Google for textual web content, and typically achieves higher compression ratios than other algorithms for this use case..bz2 application/bzip2Unix-likeAn open source, patent- and royalty-free compression format. The compression algorithm is a Burrows–Wheeler transform followed by a move-to-front transform and finally Huffman coding..F, .?XFFreeze/meltQNX4, Unix-like and DOSOld compressor for QNX4 OS. The compression algorithm is a modified LZSS, with an adaptive Huffman coding..genozip application/genozipLinux, macOS, WindowsGenozip, a compressor for genomic file formats such as FASTQ, BAM, VCF and others..gz application/gzipUnix-likeGNU Zip, the primary compression format used by Unix-like systems. The compression algorithm is Deflate, which combines LZSS with Huffman coding..lz application/lzipUnix-likeAn alternate LZMA algorithm implementation, with support for checksums and ident bytes..lz4LZ4Unix-likeAlgorithm developed by Yann Collet, designed for very high (de)compression speeds. It is an LZ77 derivative, without entropy encoding..lzma application/lzmaUnix-likeThe LZMA compression algorithm as used by 7-Zip..lzo application/lzopUnix-likeAn implementation of the LZO data compression algorithm..rzrzipUnix-likeA compression program designed to do particularly well on very large files containing long distance redundancy..sfarksfArkWindows compress/decompress- Linux and macOS decompress onlyA compression program designed to do high compression on SF2 files (SoundFont)..sz application/SnappyUnix-likeA compression format developed by Google, and open-sourced in 2011. Snappy aims for very high speeds, reasonable compression, and maximum stability rather than maximum compression or compatibility with any other compression library. It is an LZ77 derivative, without entropy encoding..?Q?SQCP/M and DOSSqueeze: A program which compressed files using Huffman coding. A file which was "squeezed" had the middle initial of the name changed to "Q", so that a squeezed text file would end with .TQT, a squeezed executable would end with .CQM or .EQE. Typically used with .LBR archives, either by storing the squeezed files in the archive, or by storing the files decompressed and then compressing the archive, which would have a name ending in ".LQR"..?Z?CRUNCHCP/M and DOSA compression program written by Steven Greenberg implementing the LZW algorithm. For several years in the CP/M world when no implementation was available of ARC, CRUNCHed files stored in .LBR archives were very popular. CRUNCH's implementation of LZW had a somewhat unusual feature of modifying and occasionally clearing the code table in memory when it became full, resulting in a few percent better compression on many files..xz application/xzUnix-likeA compression format using LZMA2 to yield high compression ratios. The LZMA algorithm is an LZ77 derivative, with entropy encoding in the form of range encoding..z application/packUnix-likeThe traditional Huffman coding compression format..Z application/compressUnix-likeThe traditional LZW compression format..zst application/ZstandardCross-platformAlgorithm developed by Yann Collet at Facebook, combining high speed and high compression. It is an LZ77 derivative, with entropy encoding in the form of finite-state entropy and Huffman coding..??_MS-DOS/WindowsCompression format(s) used by some DOS and Windows install programs. MS-DOS includes expand.exe to decompress its install files. The compressed files are created with a matching compress.exe command. The compression algorithm is LZSS.
Archiving and compression
File extension(s)MIME typeOfficial nameCreation platformRestoration platformRestorable with free softwareDescription.7z application/7zMultipleMultipleOpen source file format. Used by 7-Zip..s7z application/7zXmacOSmacOS, restoration on different platforms is possible although not immediateBased on 7z. Preserves Spotlight metadata, resource forks, owner/group information, dates and other data which would be otherwise lost with compression.
Made obsolete by the introduction of AppleDouble-encoded 7z archives (Macintosh only)..aar application/Apple ArchivemacOSmacOSCreated by Apple introduced with iOS 14 in 2020..ace application/ACEWindowsMultipleProprietary format.afa application/AFAUNIX-likeUNIX-likeA format that compresses and doubly encrypt the data (AES256 and CAS256) avoiding brute force attacks, also hide files in an AFA file. It has two ways to safeguard data integrity and subsequent repair of the file if has an error (repair with AstroA2P (online) or Astrotite (offline))..alz application/ALZipWindowsMultipleA mainly Korean format designed for very large archives..apk application/APKMultipleMultipleAndroid application package (variant of JAR file format)..arc, .ark application/ARCMultipleMultipleVery popular in the early days of BBSes, one of the first to offer compression and archiving in a single program. Largely replaced by PKZIP..arc, .cdx application/FreeArcWindows, LinuxWindows, LinuxOpen source file format developed by Bulat Ziganshin. A "FreeArc Next" version is under development which includes Zstandard support..arj application/ARJOriginally DOS, now multipleMultipleCompetitor to PKZIP in the 1990s, offered better multi-part archive handling..b1 application/B1MultipleMultipleOpen archive format, used by B1 Free Archiver.b6zB6ZmacOSMultipleCompressed archive format B6Zip.baSciferMultipleMultipleBinary Archive with external header.bhBlakHoleProprietary format from the ZipTV Compression Components.cab application/CabinetWindowsMultipleThe Microsoft Windows native archive format, which is also used by many proprietary installers such as WISE..carCompressia archiveOriginally DOS, now DOS and WindowsOriginally DOS, now DOS and WindowsCreated by Yaakov Gringeler; released last in 2003 (Compressia 1.0.0.1 beta), now apparently defunct. Free trial of 30 days lets user create and extract archives; after that it is possible to extract, but not to create..cfs application/Compact File SetWindows, Unix-like including macOSMultipleOpen source file format..cptCompact ProClassic Mac OSMultiple Compact Pro archive, a common archiver used on Mac platforms until about Mac OS 7.5.x. Competed with StuffIt; now obsolete..dar application/Disk ArchiverUnix-like including macOSUnix-like including macOS, WindowsOpen source file format. Files are compressed individually with either gzip, bzip2 or lzo..ddDiskDoublerClassic Mac OS Obsolete.dgc application/DGCAWindowsWindows.dmg application/Apple Disk ImagemacOSmacOS, Windows, LinuxSupports "Internet-enabled" disk images, which, once downloaded, are automatically decompressed, mounted, have the contents extracted, and thrown away. Currently, Safari is the only browser that supports this form of extraction; however, the images can be manually extracted as well. This format can also be password-protected or encrypted with 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption..earEARMultipleMultipleEnterprise Java Archive archive.gca application/GCAThe predecessor of DGCA..genozipGenozipLinux, macOS, WindowsLinux, macOS, WindowsOptimized for (but not limited to) genomic file types such as FASTQ, BAM, VCF.haOriginally DOS, now multipleMultiple, but may be covered by patentsDOS era format; uses arithmetic/Markov coding.hkiWinHKIMS WindowsMS WindowsHKI.iceICEWindowsWindowsProduced by ICEOWS program. Excels at text file compression..jar application/JARMultipleMultipleJava archive, compatible with ZIP files.kgbKGB ArchiverMultipleMultipleOpen sourced archiver with compression using the PAQ family of algorithms and optional encryption..lzh, .lha application/LHAOriginally DOS, now multipleMultipleThe standard format on Amiga..lzx application/LZXAmigaArchiver originally used on The Amiga. Now copied by Microsoft to use in their .cab and .chm files..pakPAKHP NonStopHP NonStopfile format from NoGate Consultings, a rival from ARC-Compressor.