Zips

ZIPs can refer to two distinct systems: ZIP codes used by the U.S. Postal Service to route mail, and ZIP files, a widely used compressed archive format.

ZIP codes were introduced in 1963 to improve mail sorting. A five-digit code covers a broad geographic area; the ZIP+4 extension, added in 1983, adds four digits for more precise routing. The first digit designates a broad region; the next two narrow to a sectional center facility or city; the final two refine the delivery area. ZIP codes support automated sorting, address validation, and demographic analysis. Although they are primarily used in the United States, some territories and special cases reference ZIP codes; many other countries use "postal codes" with different formats.

ZIP files are a compressed archive format created in 1989 by Phil Katz for PKWARE. They typically use the deflate compression method, though other methods are supported. A ZIP archive contains a central directory that lists its contents, enabling random access to individual files. ZIPs can be encrypted and password-protected, and ZIP64 extensions increase size limits. The format is cross-platform and widely used for software distribution, backups, and data transfer.

The two uses share the name but are unrelated; context is required to determine which ZIP is meant.