archive
1. <file format> A single file containing one or (usually) more separate
files plus information to allow them to be extracted (separated) by a suitable
program.
Archives are usually created for software distribution or backup. tar is a
common format for Unix archives, and arc or PKZIP for MS-DOS and Microsoft
Windows.
2. <operating system> To transfer files to slower, cheaper media (usually
magnetic tape) to free the hard disk space they occupied. This is now normally
done for long-term storage but in the 1960s, when disk was much more expensive,
files were often shuffled regularly between disk and tape.
3. <networking> archive site.
(1996-12-08)
Nearby terms:
Archimedes « architecture « Architecture Neutral
Distribution Format « archive » archive site
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