Frequently Asked Questions to unzip .tgz file using the Linux Terminal

What command do I use to unzip a .tgz file?

The primary command to extract .tgz file is 

tar -xvzf <filename.tgz>

Explanation:

  • tar: The main utility for manipulating archives.
  • x: Indicates extraction instead of creation.
  • v: Enables verbose output, showing what’s being extracted.
  • z: Instructs tar to use gzip decompression, as .tgz is typically a gzipped tar archive.
  • <filename.tgz>: Replace with the actual name of your .tgz file.

How do I unzip the file to a specific directory?

Use the `-C` flag to specify the target directory: `tar -xvzf <filename.tgz> -C <target_directory>`.

Example: `tar -xvzf example.tgz -C /home/user/extracted_files` extracts the content to the `/home/user/extracted_files` directory.

Are there alternatives to the tar command?

While `tar` is comprehensive, consider:

  • `gzip -d <filename.tgz>` to decompress only (followed by `tar -xf` to extract).
  • GUI tools like `file-roller` or `Ark` for visual extraction.

How to zip TGZ File on Linux Terminal?

To Zip TGZ Files on Linux Terminal with a simple command, the following steps should be used.

  1. Open Linux Terminal.
  2. Execute the command tar -cvzf <file name>.tar.gz <path to file>

Is there any third-party application available to unzip TGZ Files?

Yes, there are many third-party applications present to unzip TGZ files. Also, there are many online converters present that can unzip the TGZ Files online without installing any application. You can use the Chrome Extensions to convert uploaded TGZ Files easily.



How to Unzip .tgz File Using the Linux Terminal?

If you’re new to Linux, you might find yourself faced with files that have the `.tgz` extension. These files are archives that have been compressed using the tar and gzip utilities. Don’t worry if this sounds complicated! In this guide, we’ll show you how to easily unzip `.tgz` files using two different methods: the `tar` command and the `gunzip` command. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to extract the contents of .tgz files with confidence.

Table of Content

  • Understanding .tgz or .tar.gz Files
  • Quick Highlights On TGZ File Format
  • How to Unzip .tgz File Using Linux Terminal?
  • Method 1: Unzip .tgz File Using the tar Command
  • Method 2: Unzip .tgz File Using the gunzip Command

Similar Reads

Understanding .tgz or .tar.gz Files

Before we dive into the extraction process, let’s take a moment to understand what `.tgz` files are. A `.tgz` file is essentially a tar archive that has been compressed using gzip compression. Tar archives are used to combine multiple files into a single file, while gzip compression reduces the size of the tar archive, making it easier to store and transfer over the internet....

Quick Highlights On TGZ File Format:

TGZ File is the extensive version of the TAR File Format. TGZ File Format comes from the expression tar.gz The TGZ Files are created first by converting them to TAR files and then compressed to ZIP. TGZ Files are also known as the Tarballs. Linux can read specific commands in TGZ Files....

How to Unzip .tgz File Using Linux Terminal?

To Unzip .tar.gz File in Ubuntu, the following methods should be performed on the Linux Terminal. We will start with the best & highly used command to Decompress TGZ File....

Method 1: Unzip .tgz File Using the tar Command

The tar command is a versatile utility that is used to manipulate archives. To unzip .tar.gz file using `tar`command. You can extract .tgz file in following ways....

Method 2: Unzip .tgz File Using the gunzip Command

The `gunzip` command is used to decompress files that have been compressed using the gzip utility. Here’s how you can use it to unzip .tar.gz file....

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed How to Unzip .tgz File Using the Linux Terminal which is an essential skill for beginners. These files, which are tar archives compressed using gzip, can be easily extracted using the tar command or the gunzip command in the terminal....

Also Read

How to extract a TAR file (.tgz) in Windows? How to Install Zip and Unzip in Linux? – GeeksforGeek How to Create a File in the Linux Using the Terminal?...

Frequently Asked Questions to unzip .tgz file using the Linux Terminal

What command do I use to unzip a .tgz file?...

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