# 7-Zip — High-Ratio Archiving with 7z > Practical guide to 7-Zip: pack 7z, ZIP, TAR and more, squeeze files with LZMA2 and protect archives with AES-256 encryption. Source: https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/archives/7z/ 7-Zip is an open-source archiver whose LZMA/LZMA2 algorithm often achieves noticeably higher compression ratios than classic ZIP or gzip tools. On the command line it packs and extracts not only its own `.7z` format but also ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2 and XZ. This guide walks you through the commands you reach for daily – from a simple archive to AES-256 encryption, multi-volume archives and exclude patterns. ## Create Archives `7z a ` — Create an archive (format detected from extension). ```bash 7z a backup.7z documents/ ``` `7z a .zip ` — Create a ZIP archive. ```bash 7z a project.zip src/ ``` `7z a -mx= ` — Set compression level (0=store, 1=fastest, 5=normal, 9=ultra). ```bash 7z a -mx=9 best.7z largefile.dat ``` `7z a -t ` — Specify archive type (7z, zip, tar, gzip, bzip2, xz). ```bash 7z a -ttar archive.tar directory/ ``` `7z a -r ''` — Add files recursively matching a pattern. ```bash 7z a code.7z -r '*.py' ``` ## Extract `7z x ` — Extract with full paths (preserves directory structure). ```bash 7z x backup.7z ``` `7z x -o` — Extract to a specific directory. ```bash 7z x backup.7z -o/tmp/restore ``` `7z e ` — Extract without paths (all files into one directory). ```bash 7z e backup.7z ``` `7z x ''` — Extract specific files only. ```bash 7z x backup.7z 'config.yaml' 'README.md' ``` `7z x -y ` — Extract and overwrite without prompting. ```bash 7z x -y update.7z -o/var/www/ ``` ## List & Test `7z l ` — List contents of an archive. ```bash 7z l backup.7z ``` `7z l -slt ` — List with technical details (size, date, attributes). ```bash 7z l -slt backup.7z ``` `7z t ` — Test archive integrity. ```bash 7z t backup.7z ``` ## Encryption `7z a -p ` — Create an encrypted archive (prompts for password). ```bash 7z a -p secret.7z confidential/ ``` `7z a -p'' ` — Create encrypted archive with inline password. ```bash 7z a -p'MySecret123' secret.7z data/ ``` `7z a -p -mhe=on ` — Encrypt file names too (not just content). ```bash 7z a -p -mhe=on secret.7z confidential/ ``` ## Split & Update `7z a -v ` — Create a split (multi-volume) archive. ```bash 7z a -v100m backup.7z large-directory/ ``` `7z u ` — Update files in an existing archive. ```bash 7z u backup.7z updated-file.txt ``` `7z d ''` — Delete files from an archive. ```bash 7z d backup.7z 'temp.log' ``` `7z rn '' ''` — Rename a file inside an archive. ```bash 7z rn backup.7z 'old-name.txt' 'new-name.txt' ``` ## Exclude & Common Patterns `7z a -x!''` — Exclude files matching a pattern. ```bash 7z a project.7z src/ -x!'*.log' -x!'node_modules' ``` `7z a -xr!''` — Recursively exclude a pattern. ```bash 7z a project.7z ./ -xr!'*.git' -xr!'node_modules' ``` `7z a -ttar -so . | 7z a -si backup.tar.7z` — Create a .tar.7z archive (tar + 7z compression). ```bash 7z a -ttar -so directory/ | 7z a -si backup.tar.7z ``` ## Conclusion On the command line, 7-Zip is a Swiss Army knife for archives – but mind the crucial difference between `7z x` (restores the full directory structure) and `7z e` (extracts every file flat into one directory, which can overwrite same-named files). AES-256 encryption is only available for `.7z` and `.zip` archives protected with a password; add `-mhe=on` to encrypt the file names too. Avoid passing the password inline via `-p'…'`, as it then ends up in your shell history and the process list – the interactive `-p` prompt is safer. ## Further Reading - [7-zip.org – official project site](https://www.7-zip.org/) – downloads, release notes and FAQ - [7-Zip – command-line documentation](https://documentation.help/7-Zip/) – reference for all switches and commands ## Related Commands - [gzip](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/archives/gzip/) – compresses single files with DEFLATE - [tar](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/archives/tar/) – bundles files into a single archive, often combined with compression - [zip](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/archives/zip/) – creates and extracts classic ZIP archives