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

The same reason why you have to unpack all of your Holiday decorations every year. They are packed for storage, not use. Zip files pack all the data up for maximum storage efficiency but they have to be “unpacked” before you can use that data.