What is a TAR file?
TAR (Tape Archive) is an archive format that bundles files together without compressing them. It was introduced in 1979 by Unix (Bell Labs).
What TAR is good at
- Keeps Unix permissions and links
- Simple and fast
- The base of TAR.GZ and TAR.XZ
Where TAR falls short
- No compression on its own
- Less familiar to Windows users
When to use TAR
- Linux backups
- Software source bundles
- Streaming files through pipes
Where TAR files open
TAR files open in Linux, macOS, Windows 10+ and every archive tool.
TAR compared with ZIP
TAR or ZIP? TAR is best for Linux backups. ZIP is best for emailing several files at once. Convert TAR to ZIP or convert ZIP to TAR.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TAR file?
TAR (Tape Archive) is an archive format that bundles files together without compressing them. It was introduced in 1979 by Unix (Bell Labs).
What are the advantages of TAR?
Keeps unix permissions and links; simple and fast; the base of tar.gz and tar.xz.
What are the drawbacks of TAR?
No compression on its own; less familiar to windows users.
What programs open TAR files?
TAR files open in Linux, macOS, Windows 10+ and every archive tool.
How do I convert a TAR file?
Choose the TAR converter you need from the list on this page, drop in your file and press Convert. You get your new file in seconds, free and without sign-up.