What Is a .zip File? .zip Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.zip

File typeZIP Archive

MIME typeapplication/zip

CategoryArchive

Charset—

CompressibleNo

Format familyzip

What is .zip

What is a .zip file?

A .zip file is a ZIP Archive — Popular lossless archive format with optional compression.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/zip, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .zip over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/zip — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .zip files

Use 7-Zip or WinRAR to open and edit .zip files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/zip

Common software that reads/writes .zip:

7-ZipWinRARmacOS Archive Utility

Relation chain

.zipextension of

format

zipserved as

mime type

application/zipsent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

application/x-zip-compressed

.zip

Common uses

File distribution
Backup bundles
Software installation packages

How to edit .zip files

Open the file with 7-Zip, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .zip files

Create a new file and save it with the .zip extension, or export this format from 7-Zip.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .zip files?

Common options include 7-Zip, WinRAR, macOS Archive Utility. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .zip file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .zip extension.

What is the relationship between .zip and the application/zip MIME type?

application/zip is the media type identifier used for .zip files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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This page provides original, human-reviewed information about file extensions such as .zip, the File Extension Reference and related concepts. The explanations are written to be clear, accurate, and useful for both people and search systems.

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