zipdetails

zipdetails [-v] [-c] [-o offset] [zipfile ...]

-v
    Verbose output, displaying more detailed information.

-c
    Show the central directory record. Usually this is enabled if nothing else is specified.

-o offset
    Start reading at the specified offset within the zipfile. Useful if the ZIP data is embedded within a larger file.

zipfile ...
    One or more zip archive files to be analyzed.

zipdetails is a command-line utility used to display detailed information about the internal structure of ZIP archive files. It provides a comprehensive view of the ZIP file's metadata, including file names, sizes, compression methods, timestamps, extra fields, central directory information, and any embedded comments. This tool is invaluable for diagnosing issues with ZIP files, verifying their integrity, or extracting specific information programmatically.

It parses the archive's structure based on the ZIP file format specification, providing human-readable output about each entry. The information is presented in a formatted manner, making it easier to understand the archive's contents and metadata. Using zipdetails you can pinpoint the exact location of headers in the zip archive and understand the compression used and other data in the zip structure. This command is particularly useful when working with corrupted or malformed ZIP archives, as it can help identify the source of the problem. It can also be used in security analysis to examine ZIP files for potential vulnerabilities or malicious content.

The output format and specific details displayed may vary slightly depending on the version of zipdetails. It relies on correct ZIP file format; heavily corrupted archives may not be parsed accurately.

To view details of a ZIP file named 'example.zip':
zipdetails example.zip

To view verbose details:
zipdetails -v example.zip

To start analyzing from a specific offset:
zipdetails -o 1024 example.zip

zipdetails was developed as a tool for examining the structure of ZIP archives in detail. It has been used by system administrators, developers, and security analysts to understand and troubleshoot ZIP files. The command evolved over time to support various ZIP format extensions and to provide more detailed information about the archive's contents. Its development mirrors the need for better understanding of archived file formats. It is usually bundled with the Perl distribution or available as a separate package from the distribution repos.

zip(1), unzip(1), zipinfo(1)