How to Extract Tar Files on Linux

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The tar command on Linux is commonly used to create archive files such as .tar.gz or .tgz, also known as tarballs. This command offers a range of options, but you only need to remember a few to quickly create archive files with tar. Additionally, you can use the tar command to extract archive files. This article will guide you on how to extract Tar files on Linux.

While on Windows, you'd unzip RAR, ZIP, ISO files to access data using software like WinRAR, 7 Zip, etc., on Linux, you'll extract files with Tar format. The GNU tar command is included in Linux distributions, integrated for extraction. This command can create .tar archive files, then compress them with gzip or bzip2 in a single command. That's why you see files like .tar.gz or .tar.bz2. Refer to how to extract Tar files on Linux in the article below by Mytour.

Compress entire directories or individual files

Utilize the command below to compress an entire directory or a file on Linux. The command also compresses all other directories within the specified directory, meaning the command operates recursively:

tar -czvf name-of-archive.tar.gz /path/to/directory-or-file
Below are the meanings of the command parts:
-c: Create a new archive.
-z: Compress the archive with gzip.
-v: Display progress in the Terminal during archive creation, also known as 'verbose' mode. v is always an option in these commands, but it's genuinely useful.
-f: Allow you to specify the archive file name.

Imagine you have a directory named stuff in the current directory, and you want to save the directory to a file named archive.tar.gz. All you need to do is run the command below:

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz stuff

Alternatively, suppose there's a directory within /usr/local/something on the system, and you want to compress that directory into a file named archive.tar.gz, run the command below:

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /usr/local/something

Compress multiple directories or files at once

Typically, the tar command is used to compress a single directory, but you can also use it to compress multiple directories, individual files, or both. Just provide a list of files or directories instead of a single file or directory.

For instance, suppose you want to compress the directory /home/ubuntu/Downloads, /usr/local/stuff, and the file /home/ubuntu/Documents/notes.txt. Just run the command below:

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /home/ubuntu/Downloads /usr/local/stuff /home/ubuntu/Documents/notes.txt

Simply list the directories or files similar to how you want to back up the directories, files.

Exclude specific directories or files

In case you want to compress an entire directory but exclude specific files and directories within it. You can achieve this by appending --exclude to each directory or file you want to exclude.

For example, suppose you want to compress the directory /home/ubuntu, but you don't want to compress the directories /home/ubuntu/Downloads and /home/ubuntu/.cache. Just run the command below:

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /home/ubuntu --exclude=/home/ubuntu/Downloads --exclude=/home/ubuntu/.cache

The --exclude command comes in quite handy. It doesn't take the names of directories and files. You can use the command to perform various other tasks. For instance, you can archive an entire directory and exclude all .mp4 files using the command below:

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /home/ubuntu --exclude=*.mp4

Using Bzip2 compression instead

Although gzip compression is commonly used to create .tar.gz or .tgz files, the tar command also supports Bzip2 compression. This allows you to create bzip2 compressed files, often referred to as .tar.bz2, .tar.bz, or .tbz files. To do this, simply replace -z for gzip in the above commands with -j for bzip2.

Gzip is faster but compresses less, so your compressed files are larger. Bzip2 compresses slower but deeper, resulting in smaller compressed files. Gzip is also more popular, with some systems supporting gzip by default but not bzip2. However, in general, both gzip and bzip2 function similarly.

For instance, instead of using the first command provided above to compress the directory stuff, you run the command below:

tar -cjvf archive.tar.bz2 stuff

File Extraction

Once you have a compressed file, you can use the tar command to extract it. The command below will extract the contents of the file archive.tar.gz into the current directory:

tar -xzvf archive.tar.gz

Similar to the command used above for compressing files, except replacing -x with -c, allowing you to extract archive files.

If you want to extract a file into a specific directory, you can do this by appending -c to the end of the command. For example, the command below will extract the file archive.tar.gz into the /tmp directory:

tar -xzvf archive.tar.gz -C /tmp

If the file is compressed with bzip2, replace “z” with “j” in the commands above.

Another way to extract Tar files on Linux

Follow the steps below to extract Tar files on Linux:

Step 1: Open Terminal, you can perform some quick Terminal access methods to open this window faster.

Step 2: Enter tar into the Terminal window.

Step 3: Type a space.

Step 4: Input -x into it.

Step 5: If the tar file is compressed with gzip (with the extension .tar.gz or .tgz), input z into it.

Step 6:Enter f.

Step 7: Type a space.

Step 8: Input the name of the file you want to extract.

Step 9: Press Enter.

Although the tar command offers various additional options, Mytour only introduces you to some basic features for compressing and extracting Tar files. For more detailed information about the Tar command, run the command info tar. Press the q key to exit the information page when finished, or alternatively, you can refer to the online tar command usage guide.

The Mytour article just guided you on how to extract Tar files on Linux. Additionally, if your computer is running in a Desktop Linux graphical environment, you can also use file compression utilities or file managers to create or extract .tar files. On Windows, you can compress and extract files using utilities like 7 Zip, WinRAR, which are free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tar command used for in Linux systems?

The tar command in Linux is used to create archive files like .tar.gz or .tgz, commonly known as tarballs. It allows for compressing entire directories or files, making it a versatile tool for file management and backups.

How can I compress multiple directories or files using the tar command?

To compress multiple directories or files with the tar command, list each directory or file you want to include in the command. For example, use 'tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /path/to/dir1 /path/to/dir2 /path/to/file' to create an archive containing all specified items.

Is it possible to exclude certain files while using the tar command?

Yes, you can exclude specific files or directories while creating a tar archive by using the --exclude option. For instance, 'tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /directory --exclude=/directory/exclude_this' will omit the specified path from the archive.

What is the difference between gzip and bzip2 compression in the tar command?

Gzip is faster but results in larger files, while bzip2 compresses slower but achieves a deeper compression, yielding smaller files. Both can be used with the tar command, depending on your storage needs and speed preferences.

How do I extract a tar.gz file using the tar command?

To extract a tar.gz file, use the command 'tar -xzvf filename.tar.gz'. This command decompresses and extracts the contents to the current directory. To specify a different directory for extraction, use '-C /path/to/directory' at the end.

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