What is zip format? Detailed analysis

The article describes what zip format is, why it is needed, what programs work with it, and in particular, the two most popular ones.

The Beginning of the Digital Age

Once upon a time computers could not afford all. They were cumbersome, and their computing abilities left much to be desired. By the way, most modern smartphones are more powerful than computers of the late 90-ies of the last century.

But gradually it changed, new technologies became more and more accessible, and with the transition of various enterprises and institutions to electronic document circulation, a need arose to transfer various files. However, as with ordinary users. First, floppy disks, then laser disks, and now flash memory cards were used for this. But the first floppy disks and PC hard disks had a very small memory size, and there was a need to somehow compress and archive files for storage. And various archivers came to our aid. Including a similar built-in function is in the operating systems of the Windows family. So what is zip archive?

Definition

Zip is the format of compressed files. Regardless of its original form, whether it be music, film or text, after compression, it acquires exactly this format, and before it is used, it must be unzipped. You can do this with the help of a "native" program or other similar software. In Windows, starting with XP, there is a built-in ability to reduce the size of files, the so-called compressed zip folders. Find this function as follows: right-click on the file or folder, select the "Send" item and then "Compressed Zip folder". After that, the files will be archived and reduced.

However, it is worth remembering that all types of files are subjected to compression, but the success of this operation depends on their type. For example, it is best to reduce the size of text, binary files and system libraries, while music or movies in size lose slightly. So now we know what a "zip" archive is.

Third-Party Software

The ability to reduce data sizes built into the operating system is not ideal. It is greatly simplified for the sake of speed, and over time, many software-archivers with the same capability appeared, but with a more advanced algorithm of work and a number of additional functions. And one of them is 7Zip, in the common people called "7 zip". It has a wide range of features, such as the choice of the compression method, on which depends the final result and time spent, the archive format, the ability to set a password, split "heavy" files into several parts and so on. It also supports the work with the formats of other archiver programs. Distributed on a free basis, and you can find it on the official website of the developer.

WinZip

"Vin Zip" is another similar program. But the peculiarity of it is that it is greatly simplified and is intended for people who do not want to understand the mass of settings and work opportunities. At the output, it creates a zip-format archive and only supports it. Simply put, it will not open the same 7 zip or rar-format.

Its advantages include simplicity and high speed of operation, and disadvantages include weak compression and support of only one format. And nevertheless the program is popular.

Mobile OS

Despite the fact that modern Internet technologies provide a fast data transfer speed, sometimes archivers are still needed, including in tablets with smartphones. For example, backing up a dozen photos or other files and forwarding them is easier than messing up individually with everyone. In this case, even compression itself is not necessary.

So we figured out what a zip format is.