Zip is a file format used for data compression and
archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to
reduce file size, or stored as is. The zip file format permits a number of
compression algorithms.
The format was originally created in 1989 by Phil Katz, and
was first implemented in PKWARE's PKZIP utility,as a replacement for the
previous ARC compression format by Thom Henderson.
The zip format is now supported by many software utilities
other than PKZIP. Microsoft has included built-in zip support (under the name
"compressed folders") in versions of Microsoft Windows since 1998.
Apple has included built-in zip support in Mac OS X 10.3 (via BOMArchiveHelper,
now Archive Utility) and later, along with other compression formats.
Zip files generally use the file extensions ".zip"
or ".ZIP" and the MIME media type application/zip.Zip is used as a
base file format by many programs, usually under a different name.
Zip files are often represented by a document or other
object prominently featuring a zipper.