Arhivaatorid

Arhivaatorid are software tools that create archive files by gathering one or more files and folders into a single container, often with compression. The primary purpose is to save disk space, simplify storage, and ease transfer of collections of data, such as documents, images, or software.

These tools support a variety of archive formats, including ZIP, 7z, RAR, and TAR-based formats (for example tar.gz, tar.bz2). Many arhivaatorid distinguish between archiving (packaging) and compression; some formats are containers that rely on separate compression steps, while others combine both in a single file. Features commonly include encryption and password protection, metadata or comments, and integrity checks such as checksums or hashes to verify data after extraction. Advanced options may offer multi-volume archives, solid or dictionary-based compression, and configurable compression levels.

Typical functionality includes creating new archives, adding or removing files from existing archives, extracting content, and testing archive integrity. User interfaces range from graphical desktop applications to command-line tools, enabling automation through scripts. Widely used archivers include popular programs like 7-Zip, WinRAR, WinZip, and PeaZip. On Unix-like systems, tar combined with gzip, bzip2, or xz is a common approach for packaging and optionally compressing files.

In practice, archivers are employed for software distribution, data backup, long-term storage, and efficient file transfer. They enable bundling large numbers of small files into a single, portable file and help manage space constraints in storage systems and networks.