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File Extraction Tools on Linux

Jul 20, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers extracting files using 7-zip on Linux and introduces other common file extraction tools and archive types.

Using 7-zip in Linux

  • 7-zip is available on Linux as the package p7zip-full.
  • The command 7z is used to work with archives in Linux.
  • To extract a file, use the command: 7z e <filename>.
  • Example: 7z e filename.tar extracts the specified tar file.

Other Archiving Tools

  • The tar command is a widely used tool for archiving and extracting files in Linux.
  • Most Linux distributions have tar pre-installed.
  • There are various archive formats (like .zip, .tar, .gz), each possibly needing different tools or commands for extraction.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • 7-zip / 7z — a file archiver utility for compressing and extracting files; available as p7zip-full in Linux.
  • tar — a command-line tool in Linux for archiving multiple files into a single file, often used for backups or distribution.
  • Archive — a file that contains one or more compressed files, often used to package and transfer data efficiently.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Practice extracting files using 7z e <filename>.
  • Explore using the tar command for archiving and extraction.
  • Review common archive file types and the commands used to extract them.