Compressors - decompressors. What they are, what they are for and which file compressor to choose

File compression

Users with some experience will know very well what a compressor is and what it is for, however many people who start with computers are strangers to terms like unzip, zip file, decompressor, or compressor.

Today we are going to see a small explanation about what a compressor is fundamentally and what it is for. In this way later we will be able to see which compressor to choose for our daily use and how to install it. Before continuing I want to clarify that from now on when referring to a compressor I will be referring to a program that allows both to compress and decompress since nowadays all the programs that compress do the opposite operation of decompressing.

What is a file compressor?

File compression formats

Un file compressor is a program that allows you to reduce (compress) the size of a file. (For example, reduce the size of a PDF) This is achieved through a series of algorithms that allow the data contained in a file to occupy less size without loss of information. I am not going to go into how a compressor can reduce the weight of a file since it is a complicated topic that is outside the scope of this article, which is aimed at those who begin in computing, but those who are interested can read more by searching on data compression.

BWell, as I said before, when we talk about a file compressor, we understand that it includes the ability to decompress compressed files. As regards the previous definition, it must be added that the compressor is also capable of restoring the compressed file to its original format (decompressing). You might wonder And why not leave the file compressed and thus take up less space all the time?. The problem is that when we compress a file it changes its format, its structure, and it can only be handled by compressors. For example if you have a text document with PDF extension that you can open with the program Foxit PDF Reader and you compress it with a file compressor and you won't be able to open the document until you unzip it.

EThe latter happens because when you compress a file its extension changes. Let me explain, for example in a file called "my_program.exe" the extension is ".exe»And when you compress it it will change to« my_program.zip»Or« my_program.rar»Depending on the compression format you choose. The most common compression formats are these two (zip and rar), but there are many others such as: 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO , DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ , UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z and ZOO.

Most compressors will allow you handle any of these formats Although if your operating system is Linux, in this guide we show you how to install tar.gz.

What are file compressors for?

File compressors

Apart from the space that we save on the hard disk when we have a compressed file, the fundamental utility of a file compressor is appreciated when sending files from one computer to another. If you ever had to send a file by email and the program told you that the file to send was too large, you will be glad to know that with a compressor you can reduce the file size to be able to send it by mail. We already know that when it comes to sharing files over the network, the larger their size, the longer it takes to send or download them. So by compressing the files we will gain, in addition to storage space, time in sending and downloading files.

BWell, we already know what a file compressor is for and what it's for, now it's time to decide which one to choose. One of the compressors - most common decompressors is WinZip, which is paid, the most widespread and used alternative is WinRAR, but it is also paid. On the other hand, free file compressors are becoming more and more known that allow us to do practically the same things that we would do with one of the paid ones but free. Honestly, the functions that a normal user uses are simply zip and unzip and these free programs perform these functions more than anything. If in addition to free they are in Spanish the thing opts not to pay a penny to use a compressor. I recommend that you take a look at both 7-Zip as IZArcBoth are free, they are in Spanish and you can easily compress and decompress with them.

Si are interested in install a free and very complete compressorread this IZArc installation manual, in it you will see how to install the program step by step. Soon we will see in another tutorial how to access the main functions of the program. Until then I hope it has been clear to you what a compressor-decompressor is for and that the article has been useful to you. Vinegary greetings to all.


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  1.   tammy said

    hello… I was passing through here because I needed information about the extensions of the compressions and about the compressors and I must say that this info really helped me.
    thank you very much!
    Now in the bibliography of my work I am going to put this page and surely my teacher will stop by here to give it a read !!;)
    kiss!
    tammy

  2.   Gabriel said

    Hello, the information that appears about compressors helped me a lot, it is just what I was looking for, it is good that there are people who use the internet to help others and not only to harm them.

  3.   Killer Vinegar said

    Well thank you very much tammy It is a pleasure to be able to help people with their little IT questions and much more if you use the blog as a reference for a job. Greetings.

  4.   rocker said

    Thanks for the information as ordered to do for a computer work continued like this Vinagre Asesino excellent your page.

  5.   Killer Vinegar said

    Thank you very much rocker. I am glad that the information about the compressors and that you like the page. Greetings.

  6.   Luis Pedro said

    today how can I compress thm files that are cell phone themes

  7.   Killer Vinegar said

    Luis Pedro read this manual on THM files.

  8.   georgina said

    from my part everything is super father for seeing this wonderful information

  9.   enai said

    Hi, I was looking for information that I need a compressor since every time they take up more space on my hard disk ... and I have learned more about compressors.

  10.   massi said

    weno first kiero
    say hello
    and now I want to thank the
    What made this page available?
    since he served me a lot and
    Now I really know what compressing is useful for
    or unzip the files
    that's just that
    muxas
    Thank you
    goodbye

  11.   Stefy said

    MANY THANKS FOR THE DATA I hope you edit all the compressors that currently exist

  12.   alan said

    I found it cute

  13.   farid said

    HELLO, THE COMRENSORS ARTICLE WAS VERY GOOD
    I LEARNED A LOT, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LITTLE MORE YOUR PAGE AND SEE WHAT ELSE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH.
    KEEP IT UP!!! IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU !! GOD BLESS YOU

  14.   LUIS said

    This is very good, hey, how can I get a file compressor or decompressor that is good and free

  15.   Killer Vinegar said

    Luis this is free and really good, you also have a tutorial that explains how to use it:

    Izarc

  16.   ed said

    Thank you very much for the information… .You if you know how to help people..bye

  17.   Vanessa Abrego said

    thanks for helping to clarify the doubts I have about compressors

  18.   javi said

    Thank you for dedicating yourself to publishing these clarifications of doubts that are acquired since this information is of great help to us.

  19.   neko said

    I also support thanks uff of what k save me thanks to this information T_T

  20.   jero said

    what is ares ??? oraleee
    hehehe it's not a joke my wena turns off
    regards

  21.   osvaldo said

    Thank you for dedicating yourself to publishing these clarifications of doubts that are acquired since this information is of great help to us.

  22.   Agustin said

    Hello thanks for the information
    It served me a lot because I did not understand
    nothing haha ​​.. but I have a question:
    Can you compress music to pass
    to a cell phone like that takes up less? ...

    See ya…

    Agustin

  23.   Killer Vinegar said

    Agustin the compressors do not have that function. What you want to do you have to do with a converter (not compressor) that allows you to lower the bitrate of your songs.

  24.   chuyin said

    How cool is that I was looking for, thank you

  25.   Diana said

    Hello,
    what good information.
    Clear and concise 🙂
    But I have a question, I would really appreciate
    your help: I ​​have a Mac and have been compressing
    files such as photo and music folders
    but I noticed that they weigh exactly the same.
    For what is this? It is normal?

    thank you.

  26.   MIGUEL ANGEL said

    Can someone tell me that they are decompressors please I need your help

  27.   Federico the best said

    I love this page, I appreciate everything, you are the best vinegar killer- I support you in everything. Beware!

  28.   Federico the best said

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  29.   Anto the best said

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  30.   the lichu with color (? said

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  31.   Jerum said

    Hello
    I'm caty, I don't know if you can help me with the camtasia version 6 and if you can, I thank you, thank you
    Atte CATY

  32.   alberto said

    The information served me.
    nadamas k keria examples of many compressors thanks

  33.   jaimao19 said

    Hi GO, THAT'S GOOD THAT YOU HAVE THIS PAGE WHERE BY CASUALITY I LOOKED FOR SOMETHING TO SEND THE PHOTOS BY EMAIL TO MY FAMILY THAT IS IN PERU AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS TO SEND IT TO YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE THE WINZAP BUT IN REALITY I WILL NOT USE IT THE ONE THAT YOU SAY AND TRY IT, I HOPE COME MORE SPECIFIED WHERE I HAVE TO PICK YOU TO HAVE THE RIGHT THING DONE AND IT CAN BE SENT, BECAUSE I COMPRESSED IT WITH WINZAP, IT IS NOT UPLOADED IN THE MAIL ... IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT TO BE ABLE TO HELP ME THANK YOU ... GREETINGS

  34.   The garulla more garulla said

    Are you sure you can't get Win Rar for free?

  35.   Edgardo said

    The explanation is great, thanks for the teaching

  36.   eduardo__rap said

    Hey thank you very much, I like the page, I understand the information and you have helped me a rest.

  37.   francelli said

    WHAT IS THE COMPRESSION LIMIT OF A FILE ????

  38.   yesmary said

    hello, that's a good program from to egg, they have to read it

  39.   yesma said

    hello what wave is a good program from to egg they have to read that from to egg this

  40.   roger said

    Hello, well, people like you !!!!!! I just wanted to ask you how to compress music videos to save them to a disk?

  41.   roger said

    Hello, well, people like you !!!!!! I just wanted to ask you how to compress the music videos to save them to a disk? and greetings bay

  42.   lupita said

    Thank you vinegar, tin there in the world more people like you willing to help others. I found all the information that I needed for my exhibition in school and highlighted this page as the best bibliography. Bay may God continue to give you more wisdom and intelligence.

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  44.   seba64 said

    Hello, as someone already asked, I would like to know if someone knows how to compress a thm file to put it as a theme on a cell phone. The thm files are the themes that I can choose on my cell phone (a sony ericson) and thus change the background colors and images. I can take a thm file from the cell phone and take it to my pc, decompress it with any program, modify the colors and images, but I need to compress it again to put it on my cell phone. So does anyone know how to compress a folder to a thm file?

  45.   José said

    MICROSOFT OUTLOOK

    Regards,

    I have 15 GB in messages (email) and I need to compress it to copy it to a DVD, do you have knowledge of a compressor that can help me for this type of files?

    Thank you

    José

  46.   Ledgar said

    Can someone help me about what sonfor is for?

  47.   TheMen! said

    Can someone help me about what sonfor is for?

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  49.   Jontxu daddies said

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  51.   According to the said

    Hello, this material helped me a lot for what I need

  52.   Cruz Hernandez R. said

    Garcias served me a lot, congratulations for your knowledge and for your kindness.

  53.   ezequiel said

    I'm just trying to compress videos and when the process finishes, the booklets appear, but when I fix it, the compressed video weighs the same as the decompressed one. Is that so? or what am I doing wrong?

  54.   Joy Rico said

    Thank you so much for your help. Someone needed to feel sorry for those of us who require a simple, simple ... understandable explanation.

  55.   alexca said

    THE PROFE LEFT ME A TASK SBRE FILE COMPRESSORS AND I THINK THAT ON THIS PAGE I WILL FIND ALL THANK YOU

  56.   William wizard said

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  64.   blonde (: said

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  70.   inesite; D said

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  71.   blonde (: said

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  73.   blonde (: said

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  74.   inesite; D said

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  76.   farchito said

    Orale dude, I've been looking for information on the compressors for days and none had left me satisfied, nevertheless this will help me, a good brother is thanked… you are a genius lol !!!

  77.   tasting and vir said

    What a strange name for an information page jashahahaha

  78.   brakes said

    .i.

  79.   Gonzalo said

    Hello, your page is very interesting and educational, especially that it is very educational. I congratulate you and thank you for the information. I will be constantly visiting your page at good time

  80.   MAFER said

    Hello, the information on this page has helped me a lot, and more to do my homework at university, since the teacher uses the zip compressor a lot and now I know what it is and how it is used and what it is for and most importantly I will be able to download the notes. Moltes Graxies per l'informació. Adeu

  81.   MARRIED said

    hello what are the icons of the compressors

  82.   chuchin said

    I don't mind
    but thanks: v