Question 1

Why are extracted files delivered as a .zip?

Accepted Answer

Browsers can only save one file per download. Extracting a TAR yields many files, so they are repackaged into a single .zip you can save and open anywhere.

Question 2

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. All archiving runs entirely in your browser — your files never leave your device.

Question 3

What's the difference between .tar and .tar.gz?

Accepted Answer

A .tar bundles files together without compression. A .tar.gz additionally GZIP-compresses that bundle, so it's smaller. Pick .tar.gz unless you specifically need an uncompressed archive.

Question 4

Which archive format should I use?

Accepted Answer

ZIP if someone else has to open it — every operating system unpacks ZIP without extra software. TAR.GZ if the destination is a Unix system or a build pipeline, where it is the convention and preserves file modes more faithfully. Plain TAR only when something downstream will compress it for you.

Question 5

Why is .tar.gz often smaller than .zip?

Accepted Answer

ZIP compresses each file individually as it bundles them. TAR.GZ bundles first and then compresses the whole thing in one pass, so gzip can see repetition that spans file boundaries. On many small similar files — a folder of logs or source code — that difference is substantial.

Question 6

Can I password-protect an archive?

Accepted Answer

Not currently. ZIP encryption exists, but the widely-supported legacy variant is weak enough that it is not real protection, and implementing the strong variant in-browser is not something to do halfway. If you need an encrypted archive, use a dedicated tool.

TAR & GZIP Archive Tool

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Data Format Converter