Zip/Unzip on Linux: Reference and Examples

Zip single file

$ zip large-file.zip large-file.txt

Zip directory

$ zip -r large-dir.zip large-dir/

Unzip single file

$ unzip large-file.zip

Unzip to new directory

By default, stuff is extracted into the current directory, which can cause a mess if you archive has many files.

Use -d <name-of-new-directory> to extract files to a new directory.

$ unzip -d someDirectory myarchive.zip

Zip with password

You'll be prompted for a password to protect your archive (you won't see it typed to the terminal however)

$ zip -e large-file.zip large-file.txt

Add password

See above: Zip with password

Using multiple modifiers

For example, encrypt and zip directory

$ zip -re large-dir.zip large-dir/

Unzip, overwrite existing files

Example unzip archive into the current directory and overwrite existing files if they exist:

$ unzip -o archive.zip