.rar RAR archive
Archives & packages
| MIME type | application/vnd.rar |
|---|---|
| Description | RAR archive |
| Acronym | RAR – Roshal ARchive |
| Category | Archives & packages |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 52 61 72 21 (Rar!) |
Frequently asked questions
What is a .rar file?
A .rar file is a “RAR archive” (MIME type application/vnd.rar). RAR stands for Roshal ARchive.
How do I open a .rar 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 .rar file?
By the bytes at the start of the file, the signature (magic bytes): 52 61 72 21 (Rar!). On Linux and macOS, file --mime-type example.rar checks the real type regardless of the extension.
Which MIME type belongs to .rar?
The MIME type is application/vnd.rar. In the Apache web server: AddType application/vnd.rar .rar; in nginx: types { application/vnd.rar rar; }.