NZB files are used in binary newsgroups for file sharing. They allow large files to be split into parts and easily located through an NZB indexing site. NZB compliant news clients automate the download process, saving time and effort. Uploading or downloading copyrighted materials is illegal.
An NZB file has the extension .nzb, short for Newzbin. This offers a clue that these files are used in USENET newsgroups. NZB files are used to recover parts of files which, when combined together, form a large file. The only large file might be a graphic, movie, sound file, game, or program.
Newsgroups are text-based electronic bulletin boards where people gather to discuss topics of interest or exchange files. File-based newsgroups are separate from discussion-based newsgroups and are referred to as binary newsgroups. Binary newsgroups are designed for file sharing. NZB files come into the picture when people want to trade very large binaries that need to be split into multiple parts before they can be published.
USENET protocols limit the size of messages that can be uploaded. To post a large file, the poster must first convert the file into a text-based format (encode it), then use a software program to compress the file and divide it into numbered parts. A popular program for this task is WinRAR. Once the file is split into parts, it can be uploaded to a binary newsgroup. Anyone who wants the file must download all the parts, then use the software to reassemble, unzip, and decrypt the file.
It seems simple enough, except that locating binaries in USENET isn’t that easy. There are hundreds of binary newsgroups and each part of the file is posted separately. Someone wanting a file may not easily find all the pieces… or even know if a file has been uploaded. And if so, to which newsgroup? To make matters worse, binaries have low retention rates, meaning the average news server tends to purge binaries from their system anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
The team of people behind Newzbin, a site that indexes USENET binaries, were interested in solving this dilemma. They did this by creating the NZB protocol, written in Extensible Markup Language (XML). The NZB file makes searching for USENET binaries a breeze.
Simply put, to search for a binary file, simply enter a search term into a USENET indexing site such as Newzbin or Newzleech. Clicking on almost any result will produce a list of indexed messages. Click a button to generate an NZB file, and assuming you have an NZB compliant news client installed, the program will automatically open NZB. The NZB file directs the newsreader to the required set of files, indicating their locations on USENET. The newsreader automatically loads message IDs into the signal from the NZB file and the download begins, hands-free!
NZB files save binary fans countless hours of searching newsgroups for complete files. Some popular NZB compliant news clients include NewsLeecher, current versions of Forte Agent, and Xnews, although there are many others. If you downloaded the binaries the hard way, you might want to grab a NZB compliant news client and give the NZB files a try. Please note, however, that you should avoid uploading or downloading copyrighted materials, as it is illegal in most countries, including the United States.
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