7-ZIP

About 7-ZIP

7-ZIP is a free and open-source utility software that helps with the process of extracting compressed files. Thanks to its open-source philosophy, the user can expect this app to be safe to use and reliable as possible. Each time a new bug finds its way, the development team behind the project is quick to react and solve the whole problem. You can compare this program with other similar apps present on the Internet, but you need to know one thing, 7-ZIP has many helpful features.

Save storage space by compressing files and folders

The primary reason to archive files and folders is about file size. Due to a high compress ratio, users can save storage space simply by placing moderate size and large size items inside a compressed container. Even though people refer to 7-ZIP as a compressor, the app can decompress archives just as well. So, we can use it to create and extract compressed files without problems.

Use the incoporated folder browser to save time

Like other apps inside the same category, this one comes with a built-in browser we can take advantage of to navigate through the folder structure, identify and extract archives in a couple of steps. The more items a compressed file contains, the more it takes for the decompressor module to decompress them. It's quicker to extract ten larger files than 1000 smaller ones. One factor that influences this performance is the speed of the hard drive/solid-state drive.

Works with many archive formats

During the compression process of files and folders, the application uses multiple algorithms to improve performance and quality. The archives created with 7-ZIP have, by default, the .7z file format. You can unpack multiple archive formats like ZIP, GZIP, TAR, RAR, and many disk image formats, for example, ISO. Using this program, you can create 7-ZIP archives, so you take advantage of a high compress ratio, great AES-256 encryption, Unicode file names, and the ability to use any compression, conversion, or encryption method.

Integration with the Windows context menu

When it comes to GUI design, the application brings a simple interface. As said above, you can navigate through your folder tree and pick files for compression and decompression. You can perform extraction tasks the same way, plus 7-ZIP also features integration with the Windows context menu, so you don't have to launch the program first. This method is my favorite because it's very straightforward, so I don't have to use the app's integrated file browser to find the target file. It's very convenient, right-click on the item and select what type of action to perform with 7-ZIP.

Additional handy features

Another handy component is the checksum calculator to check the integrity of packages and the benchmark tool used to test the performance of your system. You can use the latter to see how well your CPU performs. The integration with Windows Shell means the user can easily extract and archive files in a couple of clicks without using the graphical interface. 7-ZIP is free to use worldwide for both commercial and personal reasons. This tool is present on many home computers, laptops, and even office spaces. Concerning translation, the app is available in English, German, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and others.

Download 7-ZIP for Windows