bzip2 — bzip2 compression and decompression

Linux / File and disk management / bzip2.html

A block-sorting compressor that typically achieves a higher ratio than gzip.

Basic Information

What is this command?

bzip2 uses the Burrows-Wheeler transform and often produces smaller results than gzip on text. The same command compresses and decompresses.

It is slower than gzip, which makes it better for archival data than for frequently read files. xz is often preferred today for an even higher ratio.

What problems does it solve?

• You want compact archival logs
• You received a .bz2 file to unpack
• Backup size matters more than speed
• You need to verify archive integrity

Key features

Compress

Compress a file into .bz2.

• When to use: You are shrinking archival text
• What you get: A .bz2 file
• Limitations: The original is removed by default.

Decompress

-d decompresses the file.

• When to use: You need to use a received archive
• What you get: The original file restored
• Limitations: A higher ratio means slower decompression.

Integrity test

-t verifies the compressed data.

• When to use: Before restoring a backup
• What you get: A corruption verdict
• Limitations: Testing takes about as long as decompressing.

Installation and usage

Check whether it is installed

bzip2 --version

sudo apt install coreutils # Debian/Ubuntu sudo dnf install coreutils # Fedora

Real-world examples

Compress

Compress a log with bzip2.

bzip2 access.log

Decompress

Decompress the archive.

bzip2 -d access.log.bz2

Verify

Check the archive for corruption.

bzip2 -t backup.tar.bz2