Working with file compression and decompression is something we often deal with as Linux users. Today, we’ll look at how to handle .xz files on Linux systems. XZ is a compression format that offers high compression ratios and is generally used for software distribution and data archiving.
What is XZ File?
The .xz format is a single-file compression format and does not offer archiving capabilities. In simple terms, .xz will compress a single file into a smaller size. If you want to compress multiple files or directories, you must first archive them using a tool like tar.
Extracting XZ Files
Here, we’re going to discuss how to extract .xz files on Linux systems. To do so, we’ll be using the xz utilities available on most Linux distributions.
Step 1: Install xz Utilities
Before we start, ensure that the xz utilities are installed on your system. You can install it using the package manager of your distribution. For instance, on Ubuntu or any other Debian-based distribution, you can install xz utils with this command:
sudo apt-get install xz-utils
Step 2: Extract the .xz File
Now, to extract a .xz file, use the xz utility with the -d option. Here’s the basic syntax:
xz -d filename.xz
This command will decompress the file and replace the original .xz file with the decompressed file.
Conclusion
That’s it! You now know how to extract .xz files on a Linux system. It’s always useful to be comfortable working with different file formats on Linux, and .xz is a common one you’re sure to encounter. Happy Linux-ing!