In the world of computing, archiving files has become a common practice. Archiving files is a process of grouping multiple files into a single file, making it easier to store, share, and transfer them. One of the popular file archive formats is the tar (tape archive) format, which is used in Unix-based operating systems.
If you have ever received a tar archive file or downloaded one from the internet, you may wonder how to extract its contents. This is where the untar command comes in handy. In this article, we will discuss how to use the untar command to extract tar archive files.
The basic syntax of the untar command is:
“`
Tar -xf file.tar
“`
Here, the `-x` option stands for extract, and the `-f` option is used to specify the archive file. The above command will extract all the files and directories in the tar archive file named `file.tar` in the current working directory.
Let’s take a closer look at the various options you can use with the untar command.
1. Extract specific files or directories
You can extract specific files or directories from a tar archive file by specifying ther names after the archive file name. For example, to extract only the file named `file1.txt` and the directory named `dir1` from the archive file `archive.tar`, you can use the following command:
“`
Tar -xf archive.tar file1.txt dir1
“`
This command will extract only the specified files and directories from the archive file.
2. Extract to a specific directory
By default, the untar command extracts files and directories in the current working directory. However, you can specify a different directory using the `-C` option. For example, to extract the contents of the archive file `archive.tar` to the directory `/home/user/folder`, you can use the following command:
“`
Tar -xf archive.tar -C /home/user/folder
“`
This command will extract the contents of the archive file to the specified directory.
3. Extract compressed tar archive files
Sometimes, tar archive files may be compressed using a compression algorithm like gzip or bzip2. In such cases, you need to use the appropriate options to extract the files. For gzip compressed archives, use the `-z` option, and for bzip2 compressed archives, use the `-j` option. For example, to extract a gzip compressed archive file named `archive.tar.gz`, you can use the following command:
“`
Tar -xzf archive.tar.gz
“`
Similarly, to extract a bzip2 compressed archive file named `archive.tar.bz2`, you can use the following command:
“`
Tar -xjf archive.tar.bz2
“`
The untar command is a powerful tool to extract files and directories from tar archive files. With its various options, you can extract specific files or directories, extract to a specific directory, and extract compressed archive files. By following the syntax and examples mentioned in this article, you can easily extract any tar archive file you come across.
How Do I Untar A Tar File?
To untar a tar file, you can use the tar command in the terminal. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Open the terminal on your computer.
2. Navigate to the directory where the tar file is located using the cd command.
3. Type the folowing command to untar the file: tar -xvf filename.tar
4. Press Enter to execute the command.
5. Wait for the process to complete. The files will be extracted to the current directory.
Alternatively, if the tar file is compressed with gzip or bzip2, you can use the following commands:
To untar a gzip tar file, use the command: tar -xzf filename.tar.gz
To untar a bzip2 tar file, use the command: tar -xjf filename.tar.bz2
It’s important to note that the file name and extension should be replaced with the actual file name and extension of the tar file you want to extract. Additionally, the files will be extracted in the current folder, usually in a folder with the same name as the tar file minus the .tar extension.
How Do I Untar A File In Linux?
To untar a file in Linux, you can use the command line. The process is qite simple and can be completed in just a few steps. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
2. Navigate to the directory where your tar file is located.
3. Use the command “tar -xvf filename.tar” to extract the contents of the tar file. Replace “filename.tar” with the name of your tar file.
4. Hit enter and wait for the extraction process to complete.
5. Once the process is complete, you should see the extracted files in the same directory as the tar file.
Alternatively, you can also use the following command to extract a tar file without verbose output:
Tar -xf filename.tar
In summary, to untar a file in Linux, navigate to the directory where the tar file is located and use the “tar” command with the appropriate options to extract the contents of the file.
How To Unzip Tar Linux?
To unzip a tar file in Linux, you can use the tar command with the -x option followed by the name of the tar file. Here are the steps to do it:
1. Open the terminal on your Linux system.
2. Navigate to the directory where the tar file is located.
3. Type the following command:
`tar -xvf .tar`
Replace “ with the name of your tar file.
4. Press Enter and wait for the extraction process to complete.
Note: You can also use the -C option followed by the path of the directory where you want to extract the files. For example:
`tar -xvf .tar -C /path/to/directory`
This will extract the files to the specified directory insead of the current directory.
That’s it! You have successfully unzipped a tar file in Linux using the tar command.
Conclusion
Untarring a file in Linux is a simple and straightforward process that can be done using the tar command with the appropriate options. Whether you have a gzip tar file or a bzip2 tar file, you can easily extract its contents to your current working directory by using the appropriate command. It is important to note that the extracted files will be plced in a folder with the same name as the tar file, followed by a version number. By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly and easily extract the contents of your tar file and access the files and directories contained within.
