ZIP Archive — Popular lossless archive format with optional compression.
Quick facts
What is .zip
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
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: application/zip
Common software that reads/writes .zip:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .zip files
How to create .zip files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include 7-Zip, WinRAR, macOS Archive Utility. 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 .zip extension.
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 2026-08-18
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