zip

The zip command in Linux is used to create, extract, and manipulate ZIP archives. It allows you to compress files into a single .zip file or decompress files from such an archive. The command supports various options for customization, including recursive archiving, excluding files, encrypting content, and more.

Examples of zip Commands:

zip example.zip file1.txt file2.txt

This command creates a new example.zip file containing file1.txt and file2.txt.

zip -r two_directories.zip directory_name/ directory_name/

This compresses all files and subdirectories within directory_name into two_directories.zip archive.

zip -r archive.zip * -x "*.txt"

Compresses all files except those ending with .txt.

zip -e encrypted.zip sensitive_data.txt

Creates an encrypted encrypted.zip file for sensitive_data.txt.

unzip example.zip

Extracts all files from example.zip into the current directory.

zip -v verbose_zip.zip *

Verbose mode provides detailed information about each file being compressed.

zip -T test_results.zip *.csv

Creates a test report for test_results.zip with .csv files, checking integrity.

The zip command is an essential tool for efficient file compression and archiving in Linux. Its versatility allows users to handle various tasks, from basic file compression to more complex operations like encryption and directory recursion. By utilizing its options, you can streamline your workflow and manage file distribution effectively across different systems.