Unzipping the Mystery: How ZIP Files Work

If you've ever had to email, upload or download several large files or programs, you've most likely encountered ZIP files. Also known as compressed or archived files, ZIP files condense multiple files into a single location with the extension .zip or .ZIP, reducing the overall size and making them easier to transmit.

Phillip Katz invented the ZIP file in 1986, and it was first implemented with the PKZip program for Katz's company, PKWare, Inc. Eventually, Katz's compression method became common usage within popular operating systems. Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS include built-in utilities to compress and unzip files, and programs like WinRAR, WinZip and StuffIt can expand them…
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