ArchivingTAR
Preserving file trees and permissions
TAR stores structure; GZ compresses a single stream.
TAR vs GZ
TAR structure preservation versus gzip single-stream compression.
Practical notes
TAR stores the file tree; gzip compresses it. They are complementary and usually used as tar.gz.
Choose tar.gz when Unix permissions and metadata must survive the archive.
Criteria
TAR
GZ
File size & compression
None
Lossless
Transparency
Not applicable
Not applicable
Animation
Not applicable
Not applicable
Editing
Create and edit with Unix archive tools
Create and edit with compression tools
Openness
Open
Open
Browser support
Native on Unix-like systems; third-party elsewhere
Native on Unix-like systems and many web servers
Typical uses
Unix archives, Preserving permissions, Software source bundles, Backup streams
Single-file compression, Web transfer compression, Log archives, tar.gz bundles
Limitations
No compression on its own, Usually combined with gzip, Large files need streaming tools
Compresses one stream, not a collection, Slower than newer codecs at high levels, No encryption
Attribute values come from the reviewed records on each format page.Read the methodology for source and review rules.
Use-case verdicts
Winners are conditional. A format wins only when the stated condition matches your workflow.
Sharing & deliveryTAR
Source bundles on Unix-like systems
tar.gz is the conventional distribution format.
Web deliveryGZ
Single-file transfer compression
GZ compresses one file for transport.
EditingDepends
Both are stream utilities
They are usually combined into one archive.