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Learning to Work with Archives

    The Best Archiver — 7-Zip

    Archives are a convenient way to store and transfer large amounts of files. They reduce file size and allow you to combine multiple documents, images, or programs into a single file. In this article, we’ll learn how to work with archives and why 7-Zip is considered one of the best archiving tools.

    What is an Archive?

    An archive is a special file that contains one or more other files. The most popular archive formats include:

    • .zip
    • .rar
    • .7z
    • .tar.gz

    Archives help to:

    • Save disk space,
    • Simplify data transfer,
    • Protect files with passwords.

    The Best Archiver — 7-Zip

    Among many archiving tools, 7-Zip stands out for its simplicity, power, and free open-source license. It supports many formats and is especially effective when compressing files into its native .7z format.

    Advantages of 7-Zip:

    • Free and open-source.
    • Supports all popular formats: ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, ISO, and more.
    • High compression ratio.
    • Integrates with Windows Explorer (convenient right-click menu).
    • Ability to create password-protected and encrypted archives.

    How to Download and Install 7-Zip

    1. Go to the official website: https://www.7-zip.org/
    2. Choose the appropriate version:
      • For 64-bit Windows — 64-bit x64
      • For 32-bit Windows — 32-bit x86
    3. Download the installer and run it.
    4. Follow the installation instructions.

    How to Open an Archive Using 7-Zip

    Once 7-Zip is installed, you can open archives in several ways:

    Method 1: Via Windows Explorer

    1. Locate the archive file (e.g., file.zip).
    2. Right-click on the file.
    3. Hover over the 7-Zip option in the context menu.
    4. Choose an action:
      • Open archive — to view the contents.
      • Extract here — to unpack the files in the same folder.
      • Extract to "FolderName\" — to unpack files into a separate folder.

    Method 2: Via 7-Zip Interface

    1. Open 7-Zip File Manager.
    2. Use the built-in file explorer to navigate to the archive.
    3. Double-click the archive to open it.
    4. Click Extract on the toolbar and choose a folder to unpack the files.

    Conclusion

    Working with archives is easy, especially with 7-Zip. This tool lets you compress and decompress files, save space, and manage large amounts of data with ease. Install 7-Zip and see for yourself how convenient a quality, free archiver can be.