Bash zip Command - Package and compress (archive) files

Using the zip Command

The zip command is used to package and compress files into a ZIP archive.

Basic Usage

To create a ZIP archive, use zip archive.zip file1 file2:

zip archive.zip file1 file2
adding: file1 (stored 0%)
adding: file2 (stored 0%)

ZIP Options Overview

Here are some common options you can use with the zip command:

• -r - Recursively zip directories
• -u - Update files in the archive if they are newer
• -d - Delete files from the archive
• -e - Encrypt the contents of the ZIP archive
• -x - Exclude specific files from being zipped

Option: -r (Recursive)

The -r option allows you to zip directories and their contents recursively.

zip -r archive.zip folder/
adding: folder/ (stored 0%)
adding: folder/file1 (stored 0%)
adding: folder/file2 (stored 0%)
adding: folder/subfolder/ (stored 0%)
adding: folder/subfolder/file3 (stored 0%)

Option: -u (Update)

The -u option updates files in the archive only if they are newer than the existing files.

zip -u archive.zip file1 file2
updating: file1 (deflated 60%)
updating: file2 (deflated 60%)

Option: -d (Delete)

The -d option deletes specified files from the archive.

zip -d archive.zip file1
deleting: file1

Option: -e (Encrypt)

The -e option encrypts the contents of the ZIP archive, requiring a password to unzip.

zip -e archive.zip file1 file2
Enter password:
Verify password:

Option: -x (Exclude)

The -x option excludes specific files from being added to the archive.

zip archive.zip file1 file2 -x file2
adding: file1 (stored 0%)