File Extension FYI Center

File Extension RAR - Compressed Files

<< Compression and Archive File Extensions

<< File Extension FYI Center

File extension RAR is used for RAR compressed files. A RAR sample file is provided. Free software for creating and opening RAR files are listed.

Copyright © 2008 by FYIcenter.com. All rights reserved.

File Extension: .RAR

MIME Type: application/x-rar-compressed

File Content: Compressed files

What is RAR? RAR is a short name for Roshal ARchive, a file format used to archiving files with data compression. RAR was created by Eugene Roshal in 1993.

Some technical notes on RAR file format:

  • RAR file format uses a proprietary compression algorithm, which has a much better compression rate that other popular compression formats like ZIP.
  • A large RAR file can be divided into multiple volumes. This allows a single RAR file to be stored on multiple floppy diskettes or other removable media.
  • RAR file format supports resistance to corruption using recovery records.
  • RAR files can be protected by passwords.

RAR is the file extension for RAR files.

RAR files are binary files. Here are the first 64 bytes of a sample RAR file dumped in HEX values: 

52 61 72 21 1a 07 00 cf 90 73 00 00 0d 00 00 00 Rar......s......
00 00 00 00 22 2f 74 20 80 2b 00 4f 00 00 00 53 ......t....O...S
00 00 00 02 e8 3e 26 96 e3 a6 26 38 1d 33 0b 00 ...........8.3..
20 00 00 00 73 61 6d 70 6c 65 2e 68 74 6d 6c 09 ....sample.html.

As you can see, "Rar" is the magic number used to identify ZIP files.

RAR sample file: Click sample.rar to download.

RAR files can be created and unpacked by many compression software:

  • WinRAR - Creates and unpacks RAR files, developed by Alexander Roshal. A shareware.
  • RarZilla Free Unrar - Unpacks RAR Files, A freeware.
  • 7-Zip - Unpacks RAR files. An open source software.

Sections in This Chapter

File Extension ZIP - Compressed Files

File Extension RAR - Compressed Files

File Extension JAR - Java Archive Files

File Extension GZ - GZIP Compressed Files

File Extension TAR - Tape Archive Files

File Extension TGZ - TAR and GZIP Files

Updated in 2008
File Extension RAR - Compressed Files