What is a TAR file?
TAR — Unix archive
Use the format TAR
A concrete example
Prepare a ZIP to transmit the contents of a TAR to another environment.
Useful checks
TAR groups files without compressing them itself. Check permissions and symbolic links if you need them.
Choose a conversion
Keep the original and open the result in the software or on the device that will need to use it.
Your questions about this format
Why did I receive a TAR.GZ file?
Gzip compresses a stream, while TAR groups the files of a folder. The engine therefore combines the two to preserve the contents of a multi-part archive. Open the TAR.GZ with compatible software, then check the extracted files.
Does converting an archive change the documents inside?
The goal is to change their container, not to convert each document. A PDF in an archive remains a PDF. To change its format, extract it and then use the Documents theme.
Will a ZIP archive necessarily be smaller?
No. JPEG photos, videos, or already compressed archives may shrink very little. Compare the size and prioritize especially the format that your recipient knows how to open.
What to do with a protected or damaged archive?
The form does not ask for a password. Unlock your archive locally if you are allowed to, then try again with a copy. If it is damaged, first check that your local software can extract the files; paying does not repair an unreadable archive.
What is it?
TAR doesn't compress anything. It simply strings files together into a single file, preserving their permissions, timestamps, and folder structure. A TAR file therefore ends up the same size as the sum of its contents.
This is why you almost always see it paired with something else: a .tar.gz file is a TAR archive that has then been run through gzip. Two tools, two steps, each doing its own job.
History & origin
TAR was born in 1979 in the Unix world, and its name says it all about its original purpose: "tape archive," for storing data on magnetic tape.
This approach — bundle first, compress afterward — has remained standard practice on Linux and macOS for forty-five years.
Why it is useful
It scrupulously preserves permissions, links, and timestamps, something ZIP handles poorly — a decisive advantage when backing up a system.
It can be paired with any compression tool, depending on whether you prioritize speed or compression ratio.
Limits & drawbacks
On its own, it saves no space at all.
Windows doesn't handle it natively, and extracting a single file means scanning through the entire archive.
Practical tips
If you receive a .tar.gz file, convert it to ZIP: you'll get an archive that opens with a simple double-click on any PC.
TAR remains the right choice for backing up Linux files, since it preserves their permissions — something ZIP would lose.
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Convert a TAR