(For instance, if you sent a hundred text files to someone by email without compressing them, it would be very annoying to receive that many attachments.)Īpple’s macOS uses Archive Utility, a small app hidden away in an obscure folder and used to create and decompress. Archives also allow you to store a number of files in a single file, making them easier to move around or send to others. zip extension, and contain one or more files that have been shrunk to save space. You certainly see these files often-they bear the. Apple + How To Understanding Compressed Files and Apple’s Archive UtilityĬompressed files and archives are very common.