ZIP vs. RAR — What's the Difference?

ZIP, originally known as "Zipper," is a file format that supports lossless data compression, while RAR, which stands for "Roshal Archive," is also a format for compressed files. Both formats allow users to package and compress files for easier transfer and reduced file size. RAR usually achieves better compression than ZIP, though ZIP is more widely utilized and compatible with various software.

ZIP files can be created and extracted using many programs, while RAR files typically require specific software like WinRAR for creation and extraction. However, many free and open-source software have gained the ability to extract RAR files, although creating RAR files usually requires the proprietary software. ZIP files have broader support across various platforms and operating systems compared to RAR files, which can be somewhat limited in terms of compatibility.

ZIP utilizes a compression algorithm known as DEFLATE, while RAR uses a proprietary algorithm developed by a Russian software engineer, Eugene Roshal. The RAR format is often chosen for its efficient compression algorithm when compared to ZIP, especially when dealing with larger files. Nevertheless, ZIP remains a preferable format for many due to its ubiquity and ease of use.

ZIP and RAR have some differences in terms of features and capabilities. For example, RAR supports better error recovery and can create spanned archives, which ZIP can also do, but with somewhat lesser capabilities in terms of recovery features. While ZIP is considered to be more user-friendly and widely accepted, RAR is often selected for tasks requiring a robust compression and archival utility.