What is a TAR.BZ2 file?
TAR.BZ2 (Bzip2-compressed TAR Archive) is a TAR archive compressed with bzip2, which packs tighter than gzip but works more slowly. It was introduced in 1996 by Julian Seward and Unix.
What TAR.BZ2 is good at
- Better compression than TAR.GZ
- Keeps Unix permissions
- Common in older Linux packages
Where TAR.BZ2 falls short
- Slower than gzip
- Mostly replaced by TAR.XZ
When to use TAR.BZ2
- Older Linux source packages
- Scientific data archives
- Backups where size matters more than speed
Where TAR.BZ2 files open
TAR.BZ2 files open in Linux, macOS, 7-Zip and WinRAR.
TAR.BZ2 compared with ZIP
TAR.BZ2 or ZIP? TAR.BZ2 is best for older Linux source packages. ZIP is best for emailing several files at once. Convert TAR.BZ2 to ZIP or convert ZIP to TAR.BZ2.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TAR.BZ2 file?
TAR.BZ2 (Bzip2-compressed TAR Archive) is a TAR archive compressed with bzip2, which packs tighter than gzip but works more slowly. It was introduced in 1996 by Julian Seward and Unix.
What are the advantages of TAR.BZ2?
Better compression than tar.gz; keeps unix permissions; common in older linux packages.
What are the drawbacks of TAR.BZ2?
Slower than gzip; mostly replaced by tar.xz.
What programs open TAR.BZ2 files?
TAR.BZ2 files open in Linux, macOS, 7-Zip and WinRAR.
How do I convert a TAR.BZ2 file?
Choose the TAR.BZ2 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.