XZ file format
| Extension | .xz |
| Category | archives |
| Description | The XZ file format is a type of file format that uses lossless compression. It employs the LZMA2 compression algorithm to reduce file size. The goal of this format is to improve upon and ultimately replace the older LZMA and LZMA2 formats, offering superior compression ratios and faster decompression speeds. XZ files typically have the .xz file extension. |
| Technical details | You can create XZ files using the xz utility or other compatible software. To open and extract these files, various decompression software applications, such as 7-Zip, WinZip, or WinRAR, are available. The XZ format allows for the compression of multiple files or directories into a single archive, preserving file attributes and permissions. The XZ format uses a container format that includes both the compressed data and metadata related to the compression. This metadata can contain details like dictionary size, compression level, and checksums. Using a container format enables easy streaming and retrieval of the compressed data, making the XZ format suitable for a variety of applications. |
| MIME type | application/x-xz |