How To Extract a Single File from a Tar Archive

In this article, we will delve into the process of extracting a single file from a tar archive. This is a common task for system administrators and developers who often need to deal with large archives and extract specific files without decompressing the entire archive.

Understanding Tar Archives

Before we get into the extraction process, let’s briefly understand what a tar archive is. Tar, short for Tape Archive, is a common file format that combines multiple files into one archive file. It’s commonly used in Unix and Linux environments for the purpose of backup, to transport files, or to save disk space.

Extracting a Single File Using Command-line Tar

One of the most common ways to extract a single file from a tar archive is by using the command-line tar. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Terminal Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where the tar archive is located using the cd command.
2. Use the Tar Command Use the following command to extract the desired file:

   tar -xf archive.tar path/to/file

   Here, replace “archive.tar” with the name of your tar archive and “path/to/file” with the path to the specific file you want to extract. Let’s break down this command:
   • tar: This is the command that deals with tar archives.
   • -x: This option tells tar to extract files from an archive.
   • -f: This option allows you to specify the name of the tar file from which you want to extract files.
   • archive.tar: This is the name of your tar file.
   • path/to/file: This is the path of the file you want to extract.
   This command will extract the file and create any necessary directories in the current directory.

Extracting a File Using Archive Manager

If you prefer a graphical interface, you can use the Archive Manager (also known as File Roller in some Linux distributions) to extract a single file from a tar archive.

1. Open Archive Manager Open the Archive Manager and navigate to the tar archive.
2. Find the File Go down into the folder hierarchy to find the file you need.
3. Extract the File Right-click the file and select “Extract”. Choose your desired location and the file will be extracted there.

Using Nautilus/Archive-Mounter

Another method to extract a single file from a tar archive is by using Nautilus, the default file manager in Ubuntu, or ArchiveMounter.

1. Open the Tar Archive Right-click the tar archive in Nautilus and select “Open with ArchiveMounter”.
2. Navigate the Archive The tar archive will appear as a removable drive on the left side of the file manager. You can explore and navigate the archive like a normal drive.
3. Extract the File Find the file you need and drag it to your desired destination or use the copy/paste commands.

Conclusion

Extracting a single file from a tar archive doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Whether you prefer using the command line or a graphical interface, there are several methods available to you. Remember, when using tar, the entire archive needs to be decompressed before extracting the specific file. This process may take some time, especially for large archives. If you are looking for a faster option to extract individual files, you may consider using .zip folders instead of tar archives.

tar -xf archive.tar path/to/file