The .tar filename was originally designed to be used as a TApe ARchiver to store entire file systems and files as single files on tape storage medium. It was designed by AT&T in 1979. Today, the format more commonly refers to an archive or collation of multiple files into a single file with the .tar filename extension. The format is an open source file archive format commonly associated with the UNIX tar command however other data compression tools are capable of effectively compressing and/or decompressing files saved with the .tar file format. Doing so typically adds the compression filename extension to the archive file for example .tar.bz2.
The .ZIP file extension format is a file archive and data compression format originally developed and released in 1989 by Phil Katz. With compatible zip format software, a file or a group of files can be packed (compressed) into a single .zip archive which can later be unpacked (decompressed). The zip file archive format facilitates the distribution of multiple files as single archives particularly over the internet and networked systems. Many operating systems have native support for the file format and can usually open zip archives without the need for third party software. Microsoft windows for instance has had native support for the ZIP format since Microsoft Windows 98, similarly Apple's Mac OS includes ZIP support through its default archive file handle Archive Utility.
FreeFileConvert uses tuned encoding for TAR to ZIP conversions, preserving clarity while trimming file size. Finished audio streams instantly across phones, tablets, desktops, and modern browsers without extra tweaks.
Upload TAR files from desktop, tablet, or cloud storage, queue multiple jobs, and let the converter finish autonomously. Return whenever convenient to download synchronized ZIP results on any device you rely on.
Process up to 5 files sized 1000 MB per batch without splitting queues manually. Mixed-format uploads convert together, producing consistent ZIP audio with dependable progress tracking.
The tar format is a popular means of digital distribution of multiple files over the internet. It should not be confused with compression/decompression format as tar is merely a tool to collate multiple files together. Combined with other compression tools and formats such as bzip2 or gzip, a tar file can then be compressed or decompressed as needed.
Many other common filename extensions use the ZIP format in one aspect or another, for example JAR, .WAR, .DOCX, .XLXS, .PPTX, .ODT, .ODS, .ODP all utilize the ZIP format. The ZIP format provides for data integrity through the CRC32 specification with support for digital signatures. It also supports multiple compression algorithms but commonly utilizes the DEFLATE algorithm.
Upload your archive file in the TAR format from your device, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
Select ZIP as the output format and click Convert. Adjust optional settings if needed.
Download the converted archive file. Each file stays available for up to 5 downloads.