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Archive file. An archive file is a file that is composed of one or more computer files along with metadata. Archive files are used to collect multiple data files together into a single file for easier portability and storage, or simply to compress files to use less storage space. Archive files often store directory structures, error detection and correction information, arbitrary comments, and sometimes use built-in encryption.
An archive is a collection of data moved to a repository for backup, to keep separate for compliance reasons or for moving off primary storage media. It can include a simple list of files or files organized under a directory or catalog structure (depending on how a particular program supports archiving).