What is ZIP?

ZIP is an archive file format that supports lossless data compression. A ZIP file contains one or more files that have been compressed to reduce file size, making it easier to store and transfer multiple files as a single package.

The format uses various compression algorithms, with DEFLATE being the most common. ZIP files can also store files without compression and support password protection and encryption.

Universal Support: ZIP is built into Windows, macOS, and most Linux distributions, requiring no additional software to open.

Features

  • Lossless compression
  • Multiple files in single archive
  • Password protection and encryption
  • Split archives (multi-volume)
  • File comments and metadata
  • Directory structure preservation
  • Selective file extraction
  • No file size limits (ZIP64)
  • Universal compatibility

Use Cases

Perfect For

  • Email attachments with multiple files
  • Software distribution and downloads
  • Document archival and backup
  • File transfers over the internet
  • Reducing storage space
  • Organizing project files
  • Sharing photo collections

Advantages

  • Universal compatibility (all platforms)
  • Built-in support on major operating systems
  • Good compression ratios
  • Fast compression and decompression
  • Password protection available
  • Supports very large files (ZIP64)
  • Can extract individual files
  • Open specification

Disadvantages

  • Compression efficiency: Not as efficient as 7z or RAR
  • No error recovery: Corrupted archives can't be repaired
  • Weak encryption: Standard ZIP encryption is easily broken
  • No solid compression: Compresses files individually
Security Note: For sensitive data, use AES-256 encryption or consider alternatives like 7z with strong encryption.

Technical Information

ZIP files use a directory structure at the end of the archive, allowing quick file browsing without decompressing. The DEFLATE algorithm is most commonly used, combining LZ77 and Huffman coding for efficient compression.

File extension .zip
MIME type application/zip
Compression DEFLATE, BZIP2, LZMA, others
Max file size 16 exabytes (ZIP64)
Encryption ZipCrypto, AES-128, AES-256

Compression Levels

  • Store (0): No compression
  • Fastest (1-3): Quick but larger files
  • Normal (5-6): Good balance
  • Maximum (9): Best compression, slower