Tar Command Practice
tar packs many files into one archive; -z/-j/-J only choose the compressor. This track drills create, extract, list, and append/update — GNU clustered packs like -czvf, not gzip(1) or zip. The same commands show up in release tarballs and backup scripts.
Command Reference
extract
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
tar -xf <archive> | Extract an archive into the current directory. |
tar -xvf <archive> | Extract an archive into the current directory and list each member. |
tar -xzf <archive> | Extract a gzip-compressed archive using the gzip filter explicitly. |
tar -xf <archive> -C <dir> | Extract an archive into a chosen directory. |
tar -xf <archive> --strip-components=<num> | Extract an archive after dropping the first N path components from each member. |
tar -xf <archive> --wildcards "<pattern>" | Extract only members whose names match a glob. |
create
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
tar -czvf <archive> <file> | Create a gzip-compressed archive and list each member as it is added. |
tar -cf <archive> <file> | Create an uncompressed tar archive from the given files. |
tar -czf <archive> <file> | Create a gzip-compressed archive from the given files. |
tar -cjf <archive> <file> | Create a bzip2-compressed archive from the given files. |
tar -cJf <archive> <file> | Create an xz-compressed archive from the given files. |
tar -caf <archive> <file> | Create an archive and pick the compressor from the archive filename suffix. |
tar -czf <archive> -C <dir> . | Create a gzip archive of a directory's contents using relative paths. |
list
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
tar -tf <archive> | List member names in an archive without extracting. |
tar -tvf <archive> | List archive members with size and timestamp details. |
tar -tzf <archive> | List members of a gzip-compressed archive using the gzip filter. |
tar -tf <archive> --wildcards "<pattern>" | List only members whose names match a glob. |
modify
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
tar -rf <archive> <file> | Append files to the end of an existing uncompressed archive. |
tar --delete -f <archive> <name> | Remove a named member from an uncompressed archive. |
tar -df <archive> | Compare archive members against the files on disk. |
tar -uf <archive> <file> | Append files that are newer than the copy already in the archive. |
Key Use Cases
- Create a gzip tarball of a project directory
- Extract an archive into a chosen directory with -C
- List members before you unpack anything
- Create an xz archive from the file extension with -a
- Append or update members in an existing uncompressed archive
- Extract only files matching a glob
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tar -czf the same as tar -czvf?
No. -v lists each member as tar works. This track treats them as different commands. -czvf and -cvzf are the same flags in another order.
Do I need -z to extract a .tar.gz?
GNU tar usually detects gzip on -xf. -xzf still forces the gzip filter. Both appear here; type the flags the prompt asks for.
Why isn't this the same as gzip or zip?
gzip compresses one stream. zip is another format. tar is the archiver; compression is an optional filter (-z/-j/-J/-a).
Where does -C apply?
-C changes directory before the following arguments. tar -czf out.tar.gz -C src . packs the contents of src, not the src directory name.
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