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

> Archiving and copying utility.
> More information: <https://manned.org/pax.1p>.

- List the contents of an archive:

`pax -f {{archive.tar}}`

- List the contents of a `gzip` archive:

`pax -zf {{archive.tar.gz}}`

- Create an archive from files:

`pax -wf {{target.tar}} {{path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...}}`

- Create an archive from files, using output redirection:

`pax -w {{path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...}} > {{target.tar}}`

- Extract an archive into the current directory:

`pax -rf {{source.tar}}`

- Copy to a directory, while keeping the original metadata; `target/` must exist:

`pax -rw {{path/to/file1}} {{path/to/directory1 path/to/directory2 ...}} {{target/}}`
