Zlib

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:zlib}}
 
{{DISPLAYTITLE:zlib}}
'''zlib''' format is a variant of the [[DEFLATE]] compressed data format. It adds a lightweight container, a small amount of configurability, and error checking.
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'''zlib''' format is a container and extension of the [[DEFLATE]] compressed data format. It adds a lightweight container, a small amount of configurability, and error checking.
  
 
zlib is also the name of a software library that supports the zlib format, and other formats related to DEFLATE.
 
zlib is also the name of a software library that supports the zlib format, and other formats related to DEFLATE.
  
There are ''many'' formats and protocols that use, or may use, zlib format. A notable example is [[PNG]].
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There are many formats and protocols that use, or may use, zlib format. A notable example is [[PNG]].
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
The first two bytes can help to identify a zlib datastream. The following tests are ordered from most reliable to least reliable.
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The first two bytes can help to identify a zlib datastream. The following tests are ordered starting with those that are most certain to be true.
  
 
* If the first two bytes are interpreted as a [[Endianness|big-endian]] integer, it is always a multiple of 31. (Always true)
 
* If the first two bytes are interpreted as a [[Endianness|big-endian]] integer, it is always a multiple of 31. (Always true)
* The first byte has eight possible values: 0x08, 0x18, 0x28, ..., 0x78. (Always true, unless the zlib format has been extended to support compression methods other than Deflate.)
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* The first byte has eight possible values: <code>0x08</code>, <code>0x18</code>, <code>0x28</code>, ..., <code>0x78</code>. (Always true, unless the zlib format has been extended to support compression methods other than Deflate.)
* The 0x20 bit of the second byte is 0. (A value of 1 is legal in zlib v3.3+, but indicates use of a preset dictionary, so the zlib stream is not portable.)
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* Almost always, the <code>0x20</code> bit of the second byte is 0. (A value of 1 is legal in zlib v3.3+, but indicates use of a preset dictionary, so the zlib stream is not as portable.)
* The first byte is exactly 0x78. (Any other value from the list above means the Deflate decompressor can use a window size less than the standard 32K. The extent to which this feature has been used is unclear.)
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* Most often, the Deflate window size is 32K, and there is no preset dictionary. With these assumptions, the first byte is <code>0x78</code>, and the second is <code>0x01</code> (if using fastest compression), <code>0x5e</code> (fast), <code>0x9c</code> (default), or <code>0xda</code> (max), with <code>0x9c</code> and <code>0xda</code> being the most common.
  
 
== Specifications ==
 
== Specifications ==
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See also [[DEFLATE#Software]].
 
See also [[DEFLATE#Software]].
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== Sample files ==
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* {{DexvertSamples|archive/zlib}}
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
* [[Wikipedia:Zlib|Wikipedia article]]
 
* [[Wikipedia:Zlib|Wikipedia article]]

Latest revision as of 15:06, 28 December 2023

File Format
Name zlib
Ontology
Released 1995

zlib format is a container and extension of the DEFLATE compressed data format. It adds a lightweight container, a small amount of configurability, and error checking.

zlib is also the name of a software library that supports the zlib format, and other formats related to DEFLATE.

There are many formats and protocols that use, or may use, zlib format. A notable example is PNG.

Contents

[edit] See also

[edit] Identification

The first two bytes can help to identify a zlib datastream. The following tests are ordered starting with those that are most certain to be true.

  • If the first two bytes are interpreted as a big-endian integer, it is always a multiple of 31. (Always true)
  • The first byte has eight possible values: 0x08, 0x18, 0x28, ..., 0x78. (Always true, unless the zlib format has been extended to support compression methods other than Deflate.)
  • Almost always, the 0x20 bit of the second byte is 0. (A value of 1 is legal in zlib v3.3+, but indicates use of a preset dictionary, so the zlib stream is not as portable.)
  • Most often, the Deflate window size is 32K, and there is no preset dictionary. With these assumptions, the first byte is 0x78, and the second is 0x01 (if using fastest compression), 0x5e (fast), 0x9c (default), or 0xda (max), with 0x9c and 0xda being the most common.

[edit] Specifications

  • ZLIB Specification v3.1 - No copy found. There are dead links to it in e.g. the zlib 0.95 README file.
  • ZLIB Specification v3.2 (from archive.org)
  • RFC 1950: ZLIB Compressed Data Format Specification version 3.3

[edit] Software

See also DEFLATE#Software.

[edit] Sample files

[edit] Links

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