Understanding the Basics of the Zip Command in Linux

Introduction to Zip Command in Linux

The zip command is an archiving utility used to compress and store files and directories into an archive. It can be used to greatly reduce the amount of space used by large files and directories, making it easier to transfer and share. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to use the zip command in Linux.

How to use Zip Command in Linux?

Using the zip command in Linux is similar to using any other command line program. You need to provide the command with the required arguments, such as the name of the file or directory you want to compress, and the destination for the compressed file. For example, if you wanted to compress a directory named “my_folder” into an archive called “my_folder.zip,” you would use the following command:

zip -r my_folder.zip my_folder/

The -r option stands for recursive, which means that it will also compress any files or folders inside the specified directory. You can also use various other options with the zip command, such as -j or –exclude. You can read more about these options in the man page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the zip command is a useful tool for compressing and storing files and directories into an archive. It can save you a lot of time and disk space by reducing the size of large files and directories. Once you understand how to use the zip command, you’ll be able to quickly and easily compress and store whatever files and directories you need.