What are zip and rar files?

When software files are prepared for public use, they are usually placed in a file set where the files are placed in their correct directories or folders. This distribution is important and should not be changed by the user unless specifically instructed.

In order to keep everything in one small neat container for storage and downloading, the file set is packed into one compressed file or archive that maintains everything in correct order until the end user unpacks or decompresses the file set ready for use. This compressed archive is created by a software utility such as Winzip or Winrar. Both of these are different types of compression types and may or may not be compatible with your existing installed computer utilities. However, both Winzip and Winrar are available to buy or run in trial modes. There are many other good quality compression utilities available and some of these are completely free to use without trials or screen nags.

A RAR file is a compressed file like a ZIP, but uses a different encoding format. It's often smaller than zip files and some developers prefer to use it. There are other types of compression and users would be advised to find an all-in-one utility that recognises these rather than use several different applications.

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