If you added this data to a RAR archive, it would be compressed in A4B4C4D4. To use a popular example, if a file includes the following data bits: AAAABBBBCCCCDDDD, this is how it would be stored without compression. As data storage uses a lot of redundancy, like storing the same information in multiple places, listing data literally instead of efficiency and indexing each data item, tidying all that data can save a lot of space. RAR files use lossless compression to reduce file size. Lossy compression sorts the data and removes bits it thinks it doesn’t need to always deliver a good experience. Lossless compression reduces file size by removing redundant data.

If you play with digital audio, you are already familiar with these terms. There are two types of compression, lossless and lossy. How file compression worksĬompressing RAR files is one of the many techniques for reducing files. Since many of us live entirely on our phones with limited data plans, that’s a good thing. In addition to ZIP files, they allow us to shrink files to make them easier and faster to download. This is the main type of compressed file used on the Internet.

RAR files (.rar) are Roshal Archive files named after their inventor, Eugene Roshal. I have tried a dozen apps that work with RAR files and the ones on this page are what I think are the best. There are a few on the market but as usual some are better than others. Macs have native tools for working with ZIP but not with RAR, so how can you open RAR files on a Mac? You need a third party tool.

RAR files are files compressed like ZIP files.

How can i open a rar file on mac