What is a ZIP File?

In computing, a ZIP file is a compressed archive of files or folders that can be extracted to a directory. The term "zipped" is derived from the fact that the files are compressed using a lossless data compression algorithm called DEFLATE, which was originally developed by Phil Katz for his PKZIP program in the late 1980s.

When you zip a file or folder, it is compressed into a single file with a .zip extension. This file contains a list of the original files and their compressed contents, along with some additional information such as the date and time of the compression and the algorithm used to compress the data.

To extract the contents of a ZIP file, you need to use a software program that can uncompress the files. Many operating systems, including Windows and macOS, have built-in tools for extracting ZIP files. You can also use third-party software such as 7-Zip or WinRAR to open and extract ZIP files.