---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, common]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# pigz

> Multithreaded zlib compression utility.
> More information: <https://manned.org/pigz>.

- Compress a file with default options:

`pigz {{path/to/file}}`

- Compress a file using the best compression method:

`pigz {{[-9|--best]}} {{path/to/file}}`

- Compress a file using no compression and 4 processors:

`pigz -0 {{[-p|--processes]}} {{4}} {{path/to/file}}`

- Compress a directory using tar:

`tar cf - {{path/to/directory}} | pigz > {{path/to/file.tar.gz}}`

- Decompress a file:

`pigz {{[-d|--decompress]}} {{archive.gz}}`

- List the contents of an archive:

`pigz {{[-l|--list]}} {{archive.tar.gz}}`
