How to Compress Files Using gzip Command

Files and Directories

How to Compress Files Using the gzip Command

Hey there! Welcome back to ProgramGuru.org. In this Linux tutorial, we’re going to learn one of the simplest and most commonly used commands for file compression in Linux — the gzip command.

Think of gzip as a way to shrink your files to save space. It’s fast, it's simple, and it’s already available on most Linux systems.

🎯 Goal of this Lesson

By the end of this short tutorial, you'll be able to compress a file using gzip, and also know how to decompress it.

✅ Step 1: Create a Sample File (Optional)

If you want to test gzip on a file, you can quickly create one like this:

echo "This is a sample file for testing gzip compression." > sample.txt

Let’s check the file:

cat sample.txt
This is a sample file for testing gzip compression.

✅ Step 2: Compress the File Using gzip

Now let’s compress it:

gzip sample.txt

That's it! After running this, your original file sample.txt will be replaced with sample.txt.gz.

ls
sample.txt.gz

✅ Step 3: Check the File Size Before and After

ls -lh sample.txt.gz

You’ll see that the file is now smaller. Perfect for saving disk space!

✅ Step 4: Decompress the File

If you want to get the original file back, you can decompress it using:

gunzip sample.txt.gz
ls
sample.txt

And yes, the file is back to its original form.

📌 A Few Extra Tips

  • gzip -k filename keeps the original file intact
  • gzip -r foldername compresses all files in a folder recursively
  • gzip -l file.gz shows compression details

🧠 Summary

Today, you learned how to:

  • Create a test file
  • Compress it with gzip
  • Decompress it using gunzip
  • Use a few extra flags for advanced control

Thanks for learning with us! Keep practicing, and you’ll get comfortable with Linux in no time. 💻


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