RARs

RARs are archives created using the RAR format, typically saved with the .rar extension. They combine data compression with archiving to store multiple files and folders in a single file while reducing overall size. The format was developed by Russian programmer Eugene Roshal and remains proprietary; WinRAR is the most common software for creating and managing RAR archives.

RAR archives support a range of features designed for reliability and efficiency. These include password-based AES-256 encryption, recovery records that can help reconstruct damaged archives, solid compression for higher ratios, and the ability to split archives into multiple volumes. They also support Unicode file names and embedded comments.

Because RAR is proprietary, support for creating RAR files is largely tied to WinRAR and its official tools. Many non-Windows applications can extract RAR archives, but creating them is seldom available outside of licensed software. RAR files remain popular for long-term storage and distribution in some communities, especially where strong compression and optional encryption are valued.

Compared with other archive formats such as ZIP and 7z, RAR often provides better compression on mixed content but may involve licensing constraints for developers and distributors. The format has evolved over time, with newer iterations offering improved performance and large-file support, while maintaining compatibility with older RAR archives where possible.