C Library, Command-line Utility Suite
3.5k 2026-04-19
libarchive/libarchive
A portable C library and suite of command-line tools for reading, writing, and manipulating a wide array of archive and compression formats.
Core Features
Supports numerous archive formats including tar, cpio, ZIP, 7-Zip, RAR, ISO9660, and more.
Handles various compression methods like gzip, bzip2, xz, and zstd.
Provides `bsdtar`, `bsdcpio`, `bsdcat`, and `bsdunzip` command-line utilities.
Offers a robust C API for integration into other applications.
Extensive documentation with man pages for both library and tools.
Detailed Introduction
libarchive is a robust and portable C library designed for efficient handling of streaming archives and compression. It provides comprehensive support for a vast array of archive formats, from traditional tar and cpio to modern ZIP, 7-Zip, and RAR, alongside various compression algorithms. Beyond its powerful API for developers, libarchive also bundles essential command-line utilities like `bsdtar` and `bsdcpio`, making it a versatile solution for system administrators and application developers needing reliable archive management capabilities across different platforms.