zip Command Guide: Compressing Files and Directories

Installing zip

`zip` command may not be pre-installed on most Linux distributions. Here are the installation methods for major operating systems.

Installing zip on Linux

You can install `zip` using the package manager for each distribution.

Installing zip on Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt update
sudo apt install zip unzip

Use the APT package manager to install `zip`.

Installing zip on Fedora/CentOS/RHEL

sudo yum install zip unzip  # CentOS/RHEL 7 and below
sudo dnf install zip unzip  # Fedora/CentOS/RHEL 8 and above

Use YUM or DNF package manager to install `zip`.

Overview of zip

`zip` command compresses files and directories in the file system into a single archive file (`.zip` file). This archive saves space and makes it easier to manage multiple files by bundling them into a single file. In particular, the `.zip` format has excellent compatibility across operating systems, making it very useful when transferring files to other systems.

Key Roles of zip

`zip` command is primarily used for the following purposes:

Main Use Cases

Compressing Files and Directories: Bundles and compresses multiple files or an entire directory into a single `.zip` file.
File Transfer and Distribution: Prepares files for email attachments or downloads by compressing website files, software packages, documents, etc.
Backup: Stores important data in `.zip` format for safekeeping.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Easily extractable in various environments such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Key zip Command Options

`zip` command offers various options for compression methods, including/excluding files, setting passwords, etc., allowing for flexible compression tasks.

1. Basic Compression and Addition

2. Compression Level and Exclusion

3. Encryption and Others

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Description:

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unzip Command (Extract)

To extract a `.zip` file compressed with `zip`, use the `unzip` command. `unzip` is often installed along with `zip`.

Extracting .zip File

unzip my_archive.zip

Extracts the `my_archive.zip` file in the current directory.

Extract to Specific Directory (-d)

unzip project.zip -d /tmp/extracted_project

Extracts the `project.zip` file to the `/tmp/extracted_project` directory.

Check Contents Before Extracting (-l)

unzip -l backup.zip

Checks the contents of the `backup.zip` file without actually extracting it, showing which files and directories are included.

Usage Examples

Learn how to efficiently compress and manage files and directories through various usage examples of the `zip` command.

Compress All Files in Current Directory

zip -r all_files.zip .

Compresses all files and subdirectories in the current directory into `all_files.zip`.

Compress Specific Files Only

zip my_docs.zip document.txt image.jpg notes.md

Compresses the three files `document.txt`, `image.jpg`, and `notes.md` into `my_docs.zip`.

Compress Directory with Best Compression

zip -r -9 code_backup.zip source_code/

Compresses the `source_code` directory into `code_backup.zip` at the highest compression ratio. Compression time may increase.

Exclude Specific Files While Compressing

zip -r project_release.zip my_project/ -x "*.log" -x "my_project/node_modules/*"

Compresses the `my_project` directory while excluding files with the `.log` extension and the `node_modules` directory.

Set Password for Compressed File

zip -r -e secure_archive.zip private_data/

Compresses the `private_data` directory into `secure_archive.zip` and sets a password. A prompt will appear asking for the password during execution.

Delete Original File After Compression (Use with Caution)

zip -m old_files.zip old_files.txt

Compresses the `old_files.txt` file to create `old_files.zip` and then deletes the original `old_files.txt`. (Use when moving files without backup)