TAR

TAR is an old container file type which its name was derive from "tape archiver". TAR is not a compression file type but only a container file type. It allows packaging multiple files into one file container. The file container is usually later on compressed using the GZip format.

Tar is most common in Unix and Linux systems. Tar was developed to support tape archiving and backup. Tar files store not only the files but also the complete folder structure in which they are stored including security parameters.

Tar files are only a packing format. They specify how files and folder structures are packed into file. Tar are commonly used in conjunction with a compression utility. In Unix and Linux systems the most common one is GZip. Tar files are created and compressed using GZip to create the well known .tar.gz file.

Software Supporting TAR Files

Archive Utility Name	Open Archive	Create Archive
7Zip
WinZip
WinRAR
PkZip
WinAce
ZipGenius
WinRK
Zipeg
ZipZag
BitZipper
ALZip
TUGZip
The Unarchiver
StuffIt
Squeez
Filzip
PeaZip
ZipitFree
IZArc
PowerArchiver