List archive contents

bash

tar -tf backup.tar.gz

Explanation

Inspect what an archive contains before extracting.

Learn the surrounding workflow

Compare similar commands or jump into common fixes when this command is part of a bigger troubleshooting path.

Same sheet · prioritizing Copy and Synchronize

Package and compress a directory tree.

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Restore archive contents to a target directory.

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Preserve mode, ownership, timestamps, and symlinks.

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Powerful local or remote copy preserving metadata and ACLs when supported.

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Useful in some initramfs and recovery workflows.

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Make the destination match the source exactly.

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