Open and browse TAR archive contents directly in your browser. View TAR, TAR.GZ (TGZ), and TAR.BZ2 files without Linux command line knowledge. Perfect for developers working with software packages, checking source code distributions, or viewing backup archives. Extract and preview files from tarballs online.
or click to browse files
View TAR archives without knowing Linux commands like tar -xvf. Just drag, drop, and browse with a visual interface.
Handle TAR.GZ (GZIP), TAR.BZ2 (BZIP2), and TAR.XZ archives. View contents of compressed tarballs directly.
Browse the complete directory hierarchy. TAR preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, and timestamps.
Perfect for inspecting source code packages, npm tarballs, Docker layers, and software distributions.
Preview source code, config files, READMEs, and text documents directly. Check contents before extracting.
Download individual files from TAR archives. Get specific files without extracting the entire tarball.
Drag and drop your TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ, or TAR.BZ2 file onto the upload area. We support all common tarball formats used in Linux/Unix.
Navigate through the directory structure just like a file explorer. Search for specific files, expand folders, and view file metadata.
Click files to preview source code, configs, or text. Download individual files or use the information to plan your extraction.
TAR stands for "Tape Archive" and is a Unix/Linux file format that bundles multiple files and directories into a single archive while preserving file permissions, ownership, and directory structure. Unlike ZIP, TAR itself doesn't compress data - it's often combined with GZIP (.tar.gz) or BZIP2 (.tar.bz2) for compression.
A TAR file is an uncompressed archive - it just bundles files together. TAR.GZ (or TGZ) is a TAR archive that has been compressed with GZIP, resulting in smaller file sizes. TAR.BZ2 uses BZIP2 compression for even smaller files but slower compression/decompression.
Our online TAR viewer works on Windows without any software installation. Just upload your TAR file and browse the contents. For local extraction, you can use 7-Zip (free) or WinRAR. Windows 10/11 also has built-in TAR support via the command line.
TAR is the standard archive format in Unix/Linux ecosystems. It preserves file permissions and symbolic links, which is crucial for software distribution. npm packages, Docker layers, Linux source code, and most open-source software are distributed as tarballs (TAR.GZ files).
Yes! npm packages are distributed as TAR.GZ files (tarballs). You can upload any .tgz package file and browse its contents, including package.json, source code, and other files. Great for inspecting dependencies before installation.
Yes, all processing happens locally in your browser. Your TAR files are never uploaded to our servers. This is especially important for developers working with proprietary source code or sensitive configuration files.
The TAR format dates back to 1979, originally designed for storing files on magnetic tape drives (hence "Tape Archive"). Despite its age, TAR remains the dominant archive format in Unix and Linux environments. Its key strength is preserving Unix file attributes: permissions, ownership, timestamps, and symbolic links - information that other formats like ZIP may not handle correctly.
Modern TAR implementations support long file names, extended attributes, and various compression methods. The format is deeply integrated into Unix tools and package managers, making it essential for software distribution, system backups, and source code sharing. Common variants include TAR.GZ (GZIP compression), TAR.BZ2 (BZIP2), and TAR.XZ (LZMA2).
Developers encounter TAR files constantly. npm packages are distributed as .tgz files, Python source distributions use TAR.GZ, Docker image layers are TAR archives, and virtually all Linux source code is released as tarballs. Our online viewer helps developers inspect package contents, review dependencies, and verify software before installation.
For web developers, TAR can be useful for packaging icon sets, bundling assets, or creating backups. When sharing with non-technical users, consider converting to ZIP format for broader compatibility. Our Archive Creator can help package files in either format.