by Matt Maerowitz

Created on: August 01, 2008

When you went to school, did you carry all of your books in your arms? Most likely you used a backpack or some other storing device to carry all of those books together to avoid the hassle of holding everything separately. Well, books are to backpacks as documents are to zip files. Just how backpacks are used to hold together books and supplies in one place, zip files are used to hold documents and applications in one place.

A zip file is essentially a compressed folder that is able to hold several files in one location. Zip files may seem like standard folders at first glance, however, there is an important distinction that must be made. Unlike folders, zip files are used for storing only. Unlike the contents in folders, the contents inside zip files cannot be accessed unless they are extracted from the zip file.

So then what is the point of zip files? For one, zip files are easily hosted or sent over the internet because each zip file acts as an individual unit. Again, think about how backpacks work. No matter how many books are stuffed inside a single backpack, backpacks tend to be pretty easy to carry from place to place. While books are inside backpacks they cannot be used in that the books can only be read after the backpack is "unzipped." While the backpack is still zipped, the books are there to stay, but conveniently you know that all of the books are secure in one place. Zip files fulfill a similar storing function.

After understanding the basic function of zip files, the name starts to makes sense. After all, zip files are able to "zip" up information and store it so that it can be used later. Zip files allow several files to be placed in a single area while conserving memory. This is made possible because zip files literally compress other files so that the file's vital data is maintained and stored for later use.

Most computer users have come into contact with zip files whether they know it or not. Zip files are characterized by a folder icon with a little zipper running along it. Additionally, zip files are compatible with virtually any computer in that most computers have built-in software to extract contents located in zip files. Besides, downloadable software over the internet has provided users with the ability to zip or unzip files, which has made zip files commonplace.

Overall like backpacks, zip files are extremely useful in storing documents for later use. Just like students without backpacks are hard to come across, computers that have not had contact with zip files have become a rarity.

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