What is a ZIP file? Learn about ZIP files here

A ZIP file is an compressed file, which means that it is a file that has been reduced in size. This is often done to speed up distribution over the Internet and to save storage space.

ZIP file details

A ZIP file is a form of compressed archive which is mainly used on Windows based PCs. It is the most popular way of compressing data, and it provides both archiving and compression, which means you can have multiple files that have been reduced in size inside a single ZIP file.

The ZIP file format was invented by Phil Katz, and the specification was released to the public in 1989. The format has since been extended with new compression and encryption algorithms. ZIP was also one of the first formats to support archive splitting, which means you can split a single ZIP file into multiple parts to e.g. match the size of floppy disks or CD-ROMs.

Opening ZIP files

If you are trying to open or create ZIP files on a Windows PC, then you will need a tool like BitZipper. After installing BitZipper, you can open a ZIP file simply by double-clicking it or by right-clicking on it in Windows Explorer, or by starting BitZipper and opening the ZIP file the same way you open a document in your word processor.

Technical details

If you are looking for technical details and the complete history of the .ZIP file format, please refer to this Wikipedia article.