How to extract xz files in Linux

An xz file is a compressed archive that uses the XZ compression algorithm, known for offering high compression ratios. This format is common in Linux systems for reducing the size of large files, similar to other formats like tar.gz and tar.bz2. xz files can store a single file or be combined with tar to compress entire directories into tar.xz archives. While the compression is efficient, the extraction process requires more CPU resources.

The xz format is gaining popularity in Linux environments due to its superior compression capabilities compared to other formats. However, extracting xz archives involves using the tar command or the unxz utility in Linux. This process is straightforward if you are familiar with using the command line.

The following guide explains how to extract xz and tar.xz files using the tar command and provides simple steps to manage compressed archives efficiently in Linux.

1. Open your terminal application.

   Any terminal emulator, such as GNOME Terminal or Konsole, can be used for this task, depending on your Linux distribution.

2. Verify if the file is an xz compressed file.

   $ file archive.xz
   archive.xz: XZ compressed data

   This step is optional but useful to confirm the file is in the correct format before proceeding.

3. Create a directory to store the extracted files.

   $ mkdir extracted_files

4. Navigate to the directory where you want the files to be extracted.

   $ cd extracted_files

5. Extract the xz archive using the tar command.

   $ tar -xvJf /path/to/archive.tar.xz

   The xvJf options in the command stand for extract, verbose, XZ compression, and file. Replace “/path/to/archive.tar.xz” with the actual file path.

6. Check the extracted contents by listing the files in the target directory.

   $ ls

   This command will display the files and folders extracted from the tar.xz archive.