RAR
Technology & Computing abbreviation · File Format
| Stands for | Roshal Archive |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
RAR stands for Roshal Archive, a file format abbreviation.
Proprietary compressed archive format created by Russian engineer Eugene Roshal in 1993, known for good compression, splitting into multi-part volumes and recovery records that can repair damaged archives. WinRAR is the main program for creating it.
Example: The download comes as a five-part RAR, so extract part1 and the rest join automatically.
Usage notes
WinRAR is famous for its free trial that never actually expires, a long-running internet joke. The RAR5 format, introduced in 2013, improved compression and security. Creating RAR files requires licensed software, but many free tools, including 7-Zip, can extract them, and Windows 11 added built-in RAR extraction in 2023.
Related abbreviations
More file format abbreviations
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- PPT – Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (legacy binary format)
- PPTX – Office Open XML presentation
- PS – PostScript
- PSD – Photoshop Document
- PST – Personal Storage Table
- RAW – Camera raw image
- RTF – Rich Text Format
- SRT – SubRip Text
- STEP – Standard for the Exchange of Product model data
- STL – Stereolithography
- SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics