Learning how to zip a file on Linux is a fundamental skill that can save space, organize backups, and speed up file sharing. Whether you’re working on a local system or managing servers, Linux offers flexible tools to archive files and folders directly from the terminal.

This guide explains how to zip files and directories, introduces other popular compression formats like tar.gz, 7z, and rar, and compares their use cases so you can choose the right method for your needs.

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1. Basic How to Zip a File on Linux

To create a basic zip archive:

zip archive.zip filename.txt

This command creates archive.zip containing the file filename.txt. To zip multiple files:

zip archive.zip file1.txt file2.jpg file3.pdf

Here is an example how to zip a whole folder recursively:

zip -r project.zip my_folder

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2. Archiving with TAR and GZ

While zip compresses and archives in one step, Linux also uses a more modular approach with tar and gzip:

🔹 TAR: Create an Archive (No Compression)

tar -cvf archive.tar folder/

This creates a plain archive (no compression), similar to grouping files together.

🔹 GZ: Compress a Single File

gzip filename.txt

This compresses a file to filename.txt.gz. It doesn’t work with multiple files unless used with tar.

🔹 TAR.GZ: Combined Archive + Compression

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz folder/

This is the most common format for Linux packaging and backups. It combines archiving (tar) with compression (gzip).

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3. 7z and RAR Archives

If you need higher compression or password protection, consider 7z or rar.

🔹 7z (7-Zip Format)

7z a archive.7z file_or_folder

Offers excellent compression and supports encryption. Install with:

sudo apt install p7zip-full

🔹 RAR (Proprietary Format)

rar a archive.rar file_or_folder

RAR offers robust compression and recovery features but requires the rar package:

sudo apt install rar

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4. Zip vs Tar.gz vs 7z vs Rar: Quick Comparison

Format	Compression	Encryption	Cross-platform	Best for
ZIP	Good	Yes	✅	Quick packaging, compatibility
Tar.gz	Very Good	🔸 No (use GPG)	✅	Backups, system packaging
7z	Excellent	✅	✅	High compression, encrypted archives
RAR	Very Good	✅	✅ (needs software)	Large files, recovery options

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5. Mac ZIP Commands (Bonus)

If you’re using a Mac, you’re in luck! macOS shares a Unix-based foundation with Linux, so the same terminal commands work for zipping and unzipping.

To zip a folder on Mac using Terminal:

zip -r archive.zip MyFolder

To unzip:

unzip archive.zip

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📘 Conclusion: Choose the Right Archive for the Task

Now that you understand how to zip a file on Linux—and how it compares to tar.gz, 7z, and rar—you can confidently archive and compress files based on your exact needs.

Use zip for quick, universal compatibility. Choose tar.gz for structured backups and Linux-based workflows. Go with 7z for excellent compression and encryption, or rar if you need recovery features.

The terminal might seem intimidating at first, but mastering these basic compression tools will boost your efficiency in no time—whether you’re managing personal files, deploying servers, or collaborating across systems. And remember, these Linux commands work just as well in macOS!

Happy archiving! 🐧📦

Helpful Resources

For further reading, check out these trusted sources:

• Linux ZIP Manual Page – Official reference for the zip command.
• Arch Wiki: Archiving & Compression – In-depth community documentation on Linux compression tools.

Also, don’t miss our guide on how to unzip files in Linux for the reverse process.