Skip to content

Linux bzip2 command

The Linux bzip2 command is a popular tool used to compress and decompress files. It offers a high compression ratio, making it an efficient choice for reducing file sizes. By using the bzip2 command, you can significantly decrease the size of files, which is especially useful when transferring or storing large amounts of data. The bzip2 command is easy to use and can be integrated into various scripts and workflows. It supports compressing multiple files at once and allows for decompressing files back to their original format. Overall, the Linux bzip2 command is a valuable tool for managing and optimizing file storage on Linux systems.

Terminal window
bzip2 [options] [file]
OptionDescription
-dDecompress the compressed file
-zCompress the file
-kKeep the original file
-tPerform integrity test
-cWrite to standard output
-fOverwrite existing files
ParameterDescription
fileThe file to compress/decompress
Terminal window
bzip2 file.txt

Compresses the file “file.txt” using the bzip2 compression algorithm.

Compress Multiple Files into a Single Archive

Section titled “Compress Multiple Files into a Single Archive”
Terminal window
bzip2 file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

Compresses multiple files (“file1.txt”, “file2.txt”, “file3.txt”) into a single bzip2 archive.

Terminal window
bzip2 -d file.txt.bz2

Decompresses the bzip2 compressed file “file.txt.bz2” back to its original form.

Terminal window
bzip2 -v file.txt

Compresses the file “file.txt” using bzip2 and displays compression statistics during the process.

To use the bzip2 command in Linux, execute the following command:

Terminal window
bzip2 file.txt

How do I compress a file using bzip2 in Linux?

Section titled “How do I compress a file using bzip2 in Linux?”

To compress a file using bzip2 in Linux, use the following command:

Terminal window
bzip2 file.txt

How do I decompress a file using bzip2 in Linux?

Section titled “How do I decompress a file using bzip2 in Linux?”

To decompress a file using bzip2 in Linux, use the following command:

Terminal window
bzip2 -d file.txt.bz2

How do I list the contents of a bzip2 compressed file in Linux?

Section titled “How do I list the contents of a bzip2 compressed file in Linux?”

To list the contents of a bzip2 compressed file in Linux, run the following command:

Terminal window
bzip2 -tv file.txt.bz2

How do I specify the compression level for bzip2 in Linux?

Section titled “How do I specify the compression level for bzip2 in Linux?”

To specify the compression level for bzip2 in Linux, use the -# option where # is a number from 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest compression level. Here’s an example:

Terminal window
bzip2 -9 file.txt

How do I keep the original file when compressing with bzip2 in Linux?

Section titled “How do I keep the original file when compressing with bzip2 in Linux?”

To keep the original file when compressing with bzip2 in Linux, use the -k option. Here’s how you can do it:

Terminal window
bzip2 -k file.txt

How do I force the compression or decompression of a file using bzip2 in Linux?

Section titled “How do I force the compression or decompression of a file using bzip2 in Linux?”

To force the compression or decompression of a file using bzip2 in Linux, use the -f option. For example:

Terminal window
bzip2 -f file.txt
  • Compression of files
  • Decompression of files
  • Creating compressed archives
  • Reducing file sizes
  • Backup and storage
  • Transfer of files with reduced size