If a .zip file contains all of the information of the original, just in less space, why does it have to be unzipped to access any of it?

Question

If a .zip file contains all of the information of the original, just in less space, why does it have to be unzipped to access any of it?

In: 1276

Answer 1

For the same reason you need to unfold your clothes to wear them.

Folded clothes take up less space than unfolded clothes, but you can’t use them until you unfold them.

Compressed files take up less space than uncompressed files, but you can’t use them for the same reason.