Compressed folders, such as the popular ZIP format, reduce disk space and make it easier to send multiple files. The level of compression depends on the files, and different formats use different algorithms. Compressed folders can also be password-protected and are useful for sharing files between operating systems.
A compressed folder is a single file on your computer that can contain many items, which it stores in a way that reduces the total amount of disk space required. Although there are multiple types of compressed folders, the most common type is the ZIP compressed folder, which is compatible with multiple operating systems. Compressed folders have many advantages because they allow users to archive different items within one file, which makes it much easier to send multiple files in an email or file transfer application.
The extent of compression that compressed folders can use depends on the files contained within the folder. If a file was already compressed before it was added to a compressed folder, the file size probably won’t be reduced any further. This is common with compressed video and images, but can occur with various other already compressed file types. There are also many different types of software available for compressing files, and some software allows the user to specify a level of compression to use. You should be aware, however, that highly compressed files may take longer to extract than files that use the default compression level.
ZIP is the most popular type of compressed folder and can be used with most operating systems used by home and business users. Other formats are also used to archive files much like a ZIP folder, and some are used for operating system and software installation packages. Each type of compressed folder format can use a different algorithm to compress the folder contents. Roshal Archive (RAR) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) files are common formats, with RAR files used for archiving files and ISO files used for CD and DVD disk images. Operating system and software installation packages often use Cabinet (CAB) and Tar Gunzip (TGZ) files to assemble installation components.
In addition to being useful for reducing file size and for sending multiple items in one file, a compressed folder has other benefits. Many types of compressed folder creation software allow users to require a password to open the file. Compressed folders are especially useful for transporting and sharing files between operating systems, because there are many open source and commercial utilities to open the file on the most common operating systems. Most operating systems support at least the ZIP format and have built-in utilities that can extract folders without the need for additional software.
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