« Back to Glossary Index
An Archive is a collection of files and folders that are stored together, typically for long-term retention, backup, or transfer. Archives are often compressed using formats like ZIP, RAR, or TAR to reduce file size and consolidate multiple files into a single package. In computing, archiving helps preserve data that is not needed for daily operations but must be saved for legal, historical, or reference purposes. Archives may also be encrypted or password-protected for security. File archiving is commonly used in data management, software distribution, and digital preservation.
« Back to dictionary
