Supported Formats
7-Zip can create archives in the following formats:7z
Native 7-Zip format with highest compression ratio
ZIP
Universal format with wide compatibility
TAR
Unix archive format, often combined with compression
GZIP
Single-file compression using Deflate algorithm
BZIP2
High-compression single-file format
XZ
Modern format with LZMA2 compression
WIM
Windows Imaging Format for system images
ISO
CD/DVD/BD image format
Format Categories
Archive Formats
These formats can store multiple files and directories with metadata:- 7z - Native format with the best compression ratio
- ZIP - Most compatible, widely supported
- TAR - Unix standard, preserves file permissions
- WIM - Windows system image format
- ISO - Optical disc image format
Compression-Only Formats
These formats compress single files or streams:- GZIP (.gz) - Fast compression, commonly used with TAR
- BZIP2 (.bz2) - Better compression than GZIP
- XZ (.xz) - Best compression, based on LZMA2
Format Comparison
The table below compares key features of different archive formats supported by 7-Zip.
Choosing the Right Format
For Maximum Compression
Use 7z format with LZMA2 compression and solid mode:For Maximum Compatibility
Use ZIP format with Deflate compression:For Unix/Linux Systems
Use TAR combined with XZ or GZIP:For Single File Compression
Use XZ for best compression or GZIP for speed:Extraction Support
7-Zip can extract from many more formats than it can create, including:
- RAR (including RAR5)
- CAB, CHM, WIM
- ARJ, LZH, CPIO, RPM, DEB
- ISO, DMG, HFS
- And many more…
Implementation Details
All format handlers are implemented in the source tree at:IArchive.h.
Next Steps
7z Format Details
Learn about the native 7-Zip format structure
ZIP Format Details
Understand ZIP format capabilities