Learn how to create and manage compressed zip archives from the command line. 16.11.2025 | reading time: 2 min Want to bundle files into a single compressed file for backup or transfer; the `zip` tool is a simple and portable choice for the command line. Quick hands-on example Create a sample folder and a zip in three commands: `mkdir project && echo "Hello" > project/readme.txt && zip -r project.zip project`; the `zip -r project.zip project` command recursively adds files and yields lines like "adding: project/readme.txt (deflated XX%)" as feedback. Options you'll reach for Use `-r` for recursion, `-9` for best compression or `-0` to store without compressing, `-e` to encrypt interactively (avoid `-P` for plain passwords), `-x` to exclude patterns and `-T` to test archive integrity after creation. When zip isn't enough For multi-file permissions and efficient streaming consider `tar` combined with `gzip` or `xz`, and for maximum compression use `7z`; choose `zip` when you need wide cross-platform support and easy extraction on Windows. Wrap-up and next steps Start practicing by zipping real project folders and experimenting with `-x` and `-T`; keep learning Linux fundamentals and consider certification such as CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1, and explore intensive exam preparation at bitsandbytes.academy. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. backup filesystem utilities storage
