Which command is commonly used to archive and compress files in Linux?

The command commonly used to archive and compress files in Linux is "tar." This utility is particularly powerful because it allows users to create a single archive file that can contain multiple files and directories while preserving their attributes. The advantage of using tar is that it can combine files without compressing them initially, which simplifies the backup process.

When archiving, tar gathers all specified files into one compressed file, which is called a tarball, typically ending in ".tar." Additionally, tar can be combined with other commands to achieve compression. For example, using tar with gzip (as in "tar -czf") creates a compressed archive also known as a ".tar.gz" file, which further reduces disk space usage.

While options like zip and gzip are also used for compressing files, they do not inherently create an archive file that can hold multiple files in the way tar does. Zip can create archives but typically is not the default tool in Linux environments for this purpose. Gzip, on the other hand, is specifically a compression tool, meaning it is best used in conjunction with tar for archiving purposes.

Thus, tar stands out as the primary utility for archiving and compressing files in Linux system administration and everyday file management.