What is Unix compress?
The traditional Unix compress format, usually named with an uppercase .Z extension. It uses LZW compression.
Extraction keeps regular files. Links, special filesystem entries, directory permissions and installation behavior are not retained. Limit: 128 MB input, 256 MB expanded data, and 1,000 entries.
Technical details
Unix compress data uses LZW coding with variable-width codes and a header identifying the compression stream. [1]
Background and compatibility
The .Z suffix is associated with the older Unix compress utility; modern tools retain decoders for compatibility. [1]
Sources and references
- libarchive-formats(5)FreeBSD / libarchive
Preview on your device
Archive entries with filenames and expanded sizes. Links and special filesystem entries are skipped.
Conversion support
Choose a file in the workspace to see the available output formats and options. A supported container may still contain an unsupported codec.
Read the format reference on Wikipedia ↗Technical format documentation ↗