There exist numerous variants of archive formats, and two of the most popular archive file formats include ZIP (.zip) files and RAR (.rar) files. These file types are generally associated with Windows and macOS. However, other varieties of similar file formats are present, including the GZ or GZIP format. According to Wikipedia, It is a format that facilitates easy compression and decompression of files. This format is very well-known among Linux and FreeBSD users. GZ files also feature a shared double extension with the TAR-based files. Similar to its other counterparts, a GZ file also sports the ability to store a compressed, small-sized version of a file.
However, one major difference between GZ files and other similar formats such as RAR and ZIP files is that the former can only store a single file, whereas the other can store multiple files.
This article will cover the procedures following which you can gzip files and extract or open a GZ file on different operating systems. Moreover, it will also state the benefits of using the file format to compress and store files. Let us get started:
How to Gzip Files:
There are different procedures for gzipping files on different operating systems. Here are the steps to gzip files on macOS and Windows:
macOS:
One of the most effective ways to gzip a file is using macOS’ “Terminal” utility. Follow these steps to gzip any file using Terminal:
Step 1 – Open a new Terminal window.
Step 2 – Navigate to the location where the file you want to gzip is located.
Step 3 – Type “gzip” and follow it with the file’s name and its extension.
Windows:
To gzip a file on Windows, you need to use a third-party application like 7zip since Windows does not offer native support for Gzip files. To gzip a file using 7zip, follow the given steps:
Step 1 – Open the 7zip application.
Step 2 – Navigate to the file’s location you want to gzip and right-click on the file name.
Step 3 – Click on “7-Zip” followed by “Add to archive.”
Step 4 – Click on “OK” to start the compression process.
How to Extract a Gzip File:
Similar to the creation process, different methods exist to extract GZ files on macOS and Windows. Here is a detailed look at the procedures:
macOS:
If you want to extract.gz files on macOS, you can conveniently do so by using Terminal. For starters, you need to use the native application’s “gzip” commands. Then, you can start the extraction process by either using specific commands or the drag-and-drop functionality of the application. If you want a simpler solution, you can use third-party applications like Archiver or BetterZip. Using these powerful compression and extraction tools, you can conveniently extract a GZ file within a few clicks. Similarly, you can also extract a particular file from a tar archive.
Windows:
Since Windows does not offer native support for GZ files, you can use a third-party application like WinZip to extract or open a GZ file on Windows. Here are the steps following which you can decompress a GZ file:
Step 1 – Open the WinZip Application, navigate the “File” menu and click on “Open” to open the GZ file you want to decompress.
Step 2 – Select and open the file present inside that you want to decompress by holding “Ctrl” and left-clicking on it.
Step 3 – Choose the desired location to store the decompressed file and click on “Unzip.”
Benefits of Using GZ Files:
There are numerous advantages of using GZ files. Here are some of the most significant ones:
- As compared to different archive formats, GZ files offer better compression and are often preferred over other archive formats in UNIX-based operating systems.
- Since GZ files compress only a single file at once, the algorithm takes advantage of the redundancy present in the file to reduce the file size even further.
- GZ files occupy less space as compared to the original file. Therefore, converting any file into a GZ file allows users to store them locally or on a cloud storage platform conveniently. Moreover, users can easily share GZ files online with others.
- Converting files into the GZ file format protects their integrity. since a GZ file does not alter any of the original file’s content, name, or ownership post compression.
- In the web development sector, developers use GZ files extensively. It is primarily because the file format significantly decreases the loading time of web pages by compressing the elements.
Users of operating systems that are UNIX-based extensively use the GZIP file format to store and share files with others. The file format is very versatile, and thus, if you wish to create or extract a GZ file, you can conveniently do so by following the steps mentioned above.