[Linux] Bash gunzip Uso: Decompress files compressed with gzip

Overview

The gunzip command is used to decompress files that have been compressed using the gzip (GNU zip) compression algorithm. It restores the original files from their compressed .gz format, making them accessible for use.

Usage

The basic syntax of the gunzip command is as follows:

gunzip [options] [arguments]

Common Options

• -c: Write output to standard output and keep the original files.
• -f: Force decompression, even if the target files already exist.
• -k: Keep the original compressed files after decompression.
• -r: Recursively decompress files in directories.
• -v: Verbosely list the files processed.

Common Examples

1. Decompress a single file:

   gunzip file.txt.gz
   

2. Decompress and keep the original file:

   gunzip -k file.txt.gz
   

3. Decompress multiple files at once:

   gunzip file1.gz file2.gz file3.gz
   

4. Decompress all .gz files in a directory:

   gunzip *.gz
   

5. Decompress and display output to standard output:

   gunzip -c file.txt.gz > file.txt
   

Tips

• Always use the -k option if you want to keep the original compressed files for future use.
• Use the -v option for verbose output to see which files are being processed, especially when dealing with multiple files.
• If you are unsure about the contents of a .gz file, you can use gunzip -c filename.gz | less to view it without decompressing it to disk.