p7zip

TLDR

Extract archive

$ 7z x [archive.7z]

Extract to specific directory

$ 7z x [archive.7z] -o[/path/to/output]

Create 7z archive

$ 7z a [archive.7z] [files_or_dirs]

Create with maximum compression

$ 7z a -mx=9 [archive.7z] [files]

List archive contents

$ 7z l [archive.7z]

Test archive integrity

$ 7z t [archive.7z]

Add password encryption

$ 7z a -p[password] [archive.7z] [files]

Create encrypted archive (including filenames)

$ 7z a -p[password] -mhe=on [archive.7z] [files]

SYNOPSIS

7z command [-mhe] [-mx=level] [-p[password]] [-o[dir]] [options] archive [files]

p7zip is the Unix port of 7-Zip, providing high-ratio compression. The 7z format typically achieves 30-70% better compression than ZIP using LZMA/LZMA2 algorithms.
The package provides three commands: 7z (full-featured), 7za (standalone), and 7zr (reduced, 7z format only). Most users use 7z or 7za.
Archive format support includes: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, TAR, and extraction from many others (RAR, CAB, ISO, DMG, etc.). The -t option overrides automatic format detection.
Solid archives (-ms=on) compress files as a single block, improving compression when archiving many similar files. However, this means extracting one file requires decompressing all preceding files.
Encryption uses AES-256. The -mhe option encrypts filenames in addition to content, hiding what's in the archive. Password can be provided on command line (visible in process list) or prompted interactively.

PARAMETERS

Add files to archive.

Extract with full paths.

Extract to current directory.

List archive contents.

Test archive integrity.

Delete from archive.

Update files in archive.

-mx= LEVEL

Compression level (0=store, 9=ultra).

-p [PASSWORD]

Set password (prompts if omitted).

-mhe=on

Encrypt header (hide filenames).

-o DIR

Output directory.

-r

Recurse subdirectories.

-y

Assume yes to all prompts.

-t TYPE

Archive type: 7z, zip, tar, gzip, bzip2.

-v SIZE

Create volumes of specified size.

-m0= METHOD

Compression method: lzma, lzma2, bzip2, ppmd.

-ms=on

Enable solid archive mode.

CAVEATS

7z format doesn't store Unix permissions by default. RAR support is extraction-only. Command-line password visible in process list. Solid archives slow single-file extraction. Maximum compression is memory-intensive. Some 7-Zip features not available in p7zip.

HISTORY

7-Zip was created by Igor Pavlov in 1999 for Windows. p7zip is the POSIX port by various contributors, first released around 2004. The 7z format and LZMA algorithm became popular for high compression ratios. The software is free under LGPL license and has influenced many other compression tools.