TAR Archive — Uncompressed tape archive bundling multiple files.
Quick facts
What is .tar
A .tar file is a TAR Archive — Uncompressed tape archive bundling multiple files.
In the mime-db registry it maps to application/x-tar, and it is marked as compressible. When serving .tar over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to application/x-tar — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .tar files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: application/x-tar
Common software that reads/writes .tar:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .tar files
How to create .tar files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include tar, 7-Zip, WinRAR. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .tar extension.
application/x-tar is the media type identifier used for .tar files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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