.gz Gzip archive
Archives & packages
| MIME type | application/gzip |
|---|---|
| Description | Gzip archive |
| Category | Archives & packages |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 1F 8B (..) |
Frequently asked questions
What is a .gz file?
A .gz file is a “Gzip archive” (MIME type application/gzip).
How do I open a .gz file?
With an archive tool such as 7-Zip (Windows) or the built-in archive manager on macOS or Linux. On the command line, use tar, unzip or 7z depending on the format.
How can you tell a genuine .gz file?
By the bytes at the start of the file, the signature (magic bytes): 1F 8B (..). On Linux and macOS, file --mime-type example.gz checks the real type regardless of the extension.
Which MIME type belongs to .gz?
The MIME type is application/gzip. In the Apache web server: AddType application/gzip .gz; in nginx: types { application/gzip gz; }.