Gzip Command In Linux And How to Use It

Introduction

In the world of Linux, there are many powerful tools available that can help you manage your files more efficiently. One of these tools is the gzip command, which is used to compress and decompress files. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll take a closer look at gzip command in Linux and how to use it.

What is the Gzip Command in Linux?

The gzip command is a tool that is used to compress and decompress files in Linux. The name “gzip” stands for “GNU zip”, as it is a part of the GNU project. The command works by taking a file and compressing it into a smaller size, which makes it easier to store and transfer. When you need to use the file again, you can decompress it using the gzip command, which restores it to its original size and format.

How to Use the Gzip Command in Linux?

Using the gzip command in Linux is relatively easy.

To use the gzip command, you need to open a terminal window in Linux. To do this, press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or open the terminal from the applications menu.

Once you have opened the terminal, navigate to the directory where the file you want to compress or decompress is located. You can use the cd command to change the directory.

Here are the basic operation we’ll perform here.

Compressing a File Using Gzip Command

To compress a file using gzip, simply type the following command in the terminal:

gzip <filename>

For example, if you want to compress a file named myfile.txt, you would type:

gzip myfile.txt

The gzip command will compress the file and add the .gz extension to its name.

Decompressing a File Using Gzip Command

To decompress a file that has been compressed with gzip, type the following command in the terminal:

gzip -d <filename>

For example, if you want to decompress a file named myfile.txt.gz, you would type:

gzip -d myfile.txt.gz

The -d option stands for “decompress”.

Creating a Compressed File with a Custom Name

You can also create a compressed file with a custom name using the -c option. For example, if you want to compress a file named myfile.txt and create a compressed file named compressedfile.gz, you would type:

gzip -c myfile.txt > compressedfile.gz

Viewing the Contents of a Compressed File

To view the contents of a compressed file without decompressing it, use the zcat command followed by the name of the compressed file. For example, to view the contents of a file called compressedfile.gz, type:

zcat compressedfile.gz

Listing the Contents of a Compressed File

To list the contents of a compressed file, use the gzip command followed by the -l option and the name of the compressed file. For example, to list the contents of a file called compressedfile.gz, type:

gzip -l compressedfile.gz

Conclusion

The gzip command is a powerful tool that can help you manage your files more efficiently in Linux. Whether you need to compress large files to save disk space or transfer them more easily, or decompress them to use them again, the gzip command can make your life easier. With this beginner