unar

unar is a free, open-source command-line tool for extracting archive files, maintained as part of The Unarchiver project. It is designed to provide reliable, broad-format extraction on multiple operating systems and serves as a lightweight counterpart to graphical archive utilities.

Overview and capabilities

unar focuses on extracting rather than creating archives. It supports a wide range of archive formats, including common types such as ZIP, RAR, 7-zip, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, and XZ, among others, relying on internal format support and external libraries. The tool aims to handle password-protected archives, preserve file timestamps and basic metadata where possible, and offer predictable behavior across platforms. It is intended for automation and scripting, enabling batch extraction of multiple archives and integration with other software workflows.

Formats and usage

The program is designed to detect archive types automatically and extract their contents to a specified location or the current directory. A companion tool within the same project can be used to inspect archive contents without extracting them. Because unar focuses on command-line usage, it is commonly employed in scripts, build processes, backups, and workflows that require headless operation or remote access.

Platform availability and distribution

unar is distributed as part of The Unarchiver project and is available for several major operating systems, including macOS, Linux, and Windows. Releases and source code are hosted on the project’s repository, where users can obtain binaries, build from source, or contribute to the project. The software is positioned as an accessible, cross-platform option for users who prefer or require a non-GUI approach to archive extraction.

Licensing and development

The project is open-source, with development and releases managed publicly on its repository. Contributions from the community are common, and the project maintains documentation to guide installation, usage, and troubleshooting.