The gzip command in Linux is used to compress files efficiently, reducing their size to save storage space and speed up file transfer without losing data.

• Uses the Lempel-Ziv (LZ77) compression algorithm for speed and efficiency.
• Replaces the original file with a compressed version ending in .gz.
• Can decompress files using the -d option or the gunzip command.

Example 1: How to compress a file using the gzip command in Linux

gzip mydoc.txt

• Creates mydoc.txt.gz in the same directory and removes mydoc.txt by default; use -k to keep the original.

Example 2: How to Decompress a gzip File in Linux

gzip -d mydoc.txt.gz

This command decompresses the specified gzip file, leaving the original uncompressed file intact.

Output:

Here,

• touch mydoc.txt: Creates an empty file.
• gzip mydoc.txt: Compresses it into mydoc.txt.gz and deletes the original.
• gzip -d mydoc.txt.gz: Decompresses it back to mydoc.txt and deletes the .gz file.

Syntax of the gzip Command

The basic syntax of the gzip command is straightforward:

 gzip [Options] [filenames]

• This syntax allows users to compress a specified file. Now, let's delve into some practical examples to illustrate the usage of the gzip command.

Options Available in gzip Command

Here are some real-world examples that demonstrate the versatility of the gzip command for different tasks:

1. Keeping the Original File Using gzip Command in Linux

• By default, gzip removes the original file after compression. To retain the original file, use the -k option:

gzip -k example.txt

This command compresses "example.txt" and keeps the original file intact.

Here,

1. touch example.txt: Creates an empty file named example.txt.
2. gzip -k example.txt: Compresses it into example.txt.gz while keeping the original file.
3. ls: Shows both files: example.txt (original) and example.txt.gz (compressed).

2. Verbose Mode Using gzip Command in Linux

To obtain more details during compression or decompression, the -v option is employed:

gzip -v example1.txt

Verbose mode provides information such as file sizes and progress during the compression or decompression process.

3. Force CompressionUsing gzip Command in Linux

In cases where the compressed file already exists, the -f option forcefully overwrites it:

gzip -f example2.txt

This command compresses "example.txt" and overwrites any existing "example.txt.gz" file

4. Compressing Multiple Files Using gzip Command in Linux

Gzip can compress multiple files simultaneously by providing their names as arguments:

gzip file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

This command compresses "file1.txt," "file2.txt," and "file3.txt" individually.

List of Common gzip Commands and Use Cases

gzip vs zip Commands: When to Use

The gzip and zip commands are both used for file compression in Linux, but they differ in functionality, compression method, and usage scenarios.