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

Think of it like unwinding a scroll to read. The scroll when wound is compressed, and contains all the text, but in order to read the text the scroll must be unwound.