ZIP

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|extensions={{ext|zip}}
 
|extensions={{ext|zip}}
 
|mimetypes={{mimetype|application/zip}}
 
|mimetypes={{mimetype|application/zip}}
 +
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000354}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/263}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/263}}
 
|released=1989
 
|released=1989
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'''ZIP''' is one of the most popular file compression formats. It was created in 1989 as the native format of the PKZIP program, which was introduced by Phil Katz in the wake of a lawsuit (which he lost) against him by the makers of the then-popular [[ARC]] program (and file format) for copyright and trademark infringement in an earlier program PKARC which had been file-compatible with ARC.  This resulted in Katz creating a new file format, which rapidly overtook ARC in popularity (to a large extent because of BBS sysops, then the primary users of such compression, resenting the lawsuit). Many programs have been released for a variety of operating systems to compress and decompress ZIP files, and native support for the format is built into several popular operating systems.
 
'''ZIP''' is one of the most popular file compression formats. It was created in 1989 as the native format of the PKZIP program, which was introduced by Phil Katz in the wake of a lawsuit (which he lost) against him by the makers of the then-popular [[ARC]] program (and file format) for copyright and trademark infringement in an earlier program PKARC which had been file-compatible with ARC.  This resulted in Katz creating a new file format, which rapidly overtook ARC in popularity (to a large extent because of BBS sysops, then the primary users of such compression, resenting the lawsuit). Many programs have been released for a variety of operating systems to compress and decompress ZIP files, and native support for the format is built into several popular operating systems.
  
ZIP implementations vary in their support for features in the specification from PKWARE (http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT), particularly features added since version 2 (1993), some of which are protected by patents and require licensing.  Many implementations limit the use of compression to the [[DEFLATE]] algorithm, introduced with version 2. Extensions incorporated into the specification that have been widely adopted are: long filenames; large files (using a technique known as ZIP64); and filenames in UTF-8.  In 2011 work began on an interoperable subset of the latest APPNOTE.TXT with the intention of publication as ISO/IEC 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core.  As of November 2012, a discussion draft is available at http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1855.pdf.  Designed to promote interoperable implementations, the draft ISO/IEC 21320-1 prohibits compression other than using [[DEFLATE]], segmentation or multiple volumes, and features that are subject to patents.
+
ZIP implementations vary in their support for features in the specification from PKWARE (http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT), particularly features added since version 2 (1993), some of which are protected by patents and require licensing.  Many implementations limit the use of compression to the [[DEFLATE]] algorithm, introduced with version 2. Extensions incorporated into the specification that have been widely adopted are: long filenames; large files (using a technique known as ZIP64); and filenames in [[UTF-8]].  In 2011 work began on an interoperable subset of the latest APPNOTE.TXT with the intention of publication as ISO/IEC 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core.  As of November 2012, a discussion draft is available at http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1855.pdf.  Designed to promote interoperable implementations, the draft ISO/IEC 21320-1 prohibits compression other than using [[DEFLATE]], segmentation or multiple volumes, and features that are subject to patents.
  
 
While .zip is the usual file extension, ZIP-formatted files can be found with many other extensions since a number of other file formats use ZIP compression but store their files in application-specific extensions. See [[:Category:ZIP based file formats]] for a list of such formats.
 
While .zip is the usual file extension, ZIP-formatted files can be found with many other extensions since a number of other file formats use ZIP compression but store their files in application-specific extensions. See [[:Category:ZIP based file formats]] for a list of such formats.
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* PUID (PRONOM): '''x-fmt/263'''
 
* PUID (PRONOM): '''x-fmt/263'''
  
== References ==
+
== Specifications ==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_%28file_format%29 ZIP (file format): Wikipedia]
+
 
* [http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT APPNOTE from PKWARE] (latest version of formal spec)
 
* [http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT APPNOTE from PKWARE] (latest version of formal spec)
 
* [http://www.pkware.com/support/zip-app-note/archives APPNOTE Archives from PKWARE] (selected versions all the way back to 1.0)
 
* [http://www.pkware.com/support/zip-app-note/archives APPNOTE Archives from PKWARE] (selected versions all the way back to 1.0)
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* [http://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/application/zip IANA registration for application/zip in July 1993] (corresponds to version 2 of APPNOTE.TXT)
 
* [http://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/application/zip IANA registration for application/zip in July 1993] (corresponds to version 2 of APPNOTE.TXT)
 
* [ftp://ftp.info-zip.org/pub/infozip/doc/ Documentation from Info-ZIP] (Includes Info-ZIP variants on APPNOTE.TXT dated from 1996 to 2004, specifications used as the basis for various open-source tools)
 
* [ftp://ftp.info-zip.org/pub/infozip/doc/ Documentation from Info-ZIP] (Includes Info-ZIP variants on APPNOTE.TXT dated from 1996 to 2004, specifications used as the basis for various open-source tools)
* [http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/formats/fdd/fdd000354.shtml ZIP File Format (PKWARE), from Library of Congress resource on Sustainability of Digital Formats]
 
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/x-fmt/263 ZIP Format summary at PRONOM]
 
 
* [http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1855.pdf November 2012 working draft of ISO/IEC WD 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core] Intended as restricted subset of APPNOTE 6.3.3 designed to promote interoperability.
 
* [http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1855.pdf November 2012 working draft of ISO/IEC WD 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core] Intended as restricted subset of APPNOTE 6.3.3 designed to promote interoperability.
 
* [http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1886.pdf February 2013 committee draft of ISO/IEC CD 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core] Essentially the same as November 2012 working draft except that it mandates use of the UTF-8 indicator.
 
* [http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1886.pdf February 2013 committee draft of ISO/IEC CD 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core] Essentially the same as November 2012 working draft except that it mandates use of the UTF-8 indicator.
 
* [http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/GS.WorldView/Resources/The.MacShrinkIt.Project/ARCHIVES.TXT Archive format info, including ZIP] (from 1989, when ZIP was newly released)
 
* [http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/GS.WorldView/Resources/The.MacShrinkIt.Project/ARCHIVES.TXT Archive format info, including ZIP] (from 1989, when ZIP was newly released)
 
* [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/arc_fmts.txt ZIP file header format (among other archive types)]
 
* [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/arc_fmts.txt ZIP file header format (among other archive types)]
 +
 +
== Software ==
 +
* [http://www.info-zip.org/ Info-ZIP]: [http://www.info-zip.org/Zip.html Zip], [http://www.info-zip.org/UnZip.html UnZip]
 +
* [http://www.7-zip.org/ 7-Zip]
 +
* [http://zziplib.sourceforge.net/ zziplib]
 +
 +
== Links ==
 +
* [[Wikipedia:Zip (file format)|ZIP (file format): Wikipedia]]
  
 
[[Category:Compression]]
 
[[Category:Compression]]
 
[[Category:Metaformats]]
 
[[Category:Metaformats]]
 
[[Category:ZIP based file formats]]
 
[[Category:ZIP based file formats]]

Revision as of 14:56, 15 December 2013

Not to be confused with Zip disk, an unrelated disk cartridge unit.
File Format
Name ZIP
Ontology
Extension(s) .zip
MIME Type(s) application/zip
LoCFDD fdd000354
PRONOM x-fmt/263
Released 1989


ZIP is one of the most popular file compression formats. It was created in 1989 as the native format of the PKZIP program, which was introduced by Phil Katz in the wake of a lawsuit (which he lost) against him by the makers of the then-popular ARC program (and file format) for copyright and trademark infringement in an earlier program PKARC which had been file-compatible with ARC. This resulted in Katz creating a new file format, which rapidly overtook ARC in popularity (to a large extent because of BBS sysops, then the primary users of such compression, resenting the lawsuit). Many programs have been released for a variety of operating systems to compress and decompress ZIP files, and native support for the format is built into several popular operating systems.

ZIP implementations vary in their support for features in the specification from PKWARE (http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT), particularly features added since version 2 (1993), some of which are protected by patents and require licensing. Many implementations limit the use of compression to the DEFLATE algorithm, introduced with version 2. Extensions incorporated into the specification that have been widely adopted are: long filenames; large files (using a technique known as ZIP64); and filenames in UTF-8. In 2011 work began on an interoperable subset of the latest APPNOTE.TXT with the intention of publication as ISO/IEC 21320-1, Document Container File -- Part 1: Core. As of November 2012, a discussion draft is available at http://www.itscj.ipsj.or.jp/sc34/open/1855.pdf. Designed to promote interoperable implementations, the draft ISO/IEC 21320-1 prohibits compression other than using DEFLATE, segmentation or multiple volumes, and features that are subject to patents.

While .zip is the usual file extension, ZIP-formatted files can be found with many other extensions since a number of other file formats use ZIP compression but store their files in application-specific extensions. See Category:ZIP based file formats for a list of such formats.

Contents

Identifiers

  • File extension: .ZIP
  • MIME type (Internet media type): application/zip
  • Uniform Type Identifier (Apple): com.pkware.zip-archive
  • PUID (PRONOM): x-fmt/263

Specifications

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