ZIPbestand

A zip file is a common archive file format that supports lossless data compression. This means that when a file is compressed into a zip archive, no information is lost. Zip files can contain one or more files and directories, which are then compressed to reduce their size. This makes them useful for bundling multiple files together for easier transfer or storage, and for saving disk space. The zip file format was originally developed by Phil Katz for his PKZIP program and has since become a widely supported standard across many operating systems and software applications.

The primary function of a zip file is compression. Algorithms like DEFLATE are commonly used within the zip format to achieve this compression. When you create a zip archive, the software analyzes the data within the files and replaces redundant information with shorter representations. Conversely, when you extract a zip file, the software uses the stored information to reconstruct the original files exactly as they were. This process is reversible and preserves the integrity of the data. Beyond compression, zip files also serve as containers, allowing users to group related files into a single package, simplifying organization and distribution.