ZIP
A widely used archive format for packaging one or more files, usually with compression and optionally with encryption.
General information
- Format name
- ZIP Archive
- Extension
.zip- MIME type
application/zip- Category
- archive
- Data type
- Binary
- Developer
- PKWARE
- Introduced
- 1989
File signatures
| Offset | Hexadecimal | ASCII | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 50 4B 03 04 | PK | Common ZIP local-file-header signature. Not every valid ZIP file is required to begin with a file entry. |
| 0 | 50 4B 05 06 | PK | Signature commonly seen at the beginning of an empty ZIP archive. |
Common uses
File compression
File distribution
Software packages
Document containers
Bundling multiple files
Related formats
Technical resources
| Resource | Publisher | Link |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP File Format (PKWARE) | Library of Congress | Open resource ↗ |
| Media Types Registry | IANA | Open resource ↗ |
Record information
- Verified
- October 3, 2026
- Last updated
- October 3, 2026