tar (create and extract archives) in Linux CLI - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of this tar command?

You run the command tar -cf archive.tar file1.txt file2.txt in a directory containing file1.txt and file2.txt. What does the command do?

Linux CLI

tar -cf archive.tar file1.txt file2.txt

A Creates a compressed archive named archive.tar.gz containing file1.txt and file2.txt

B Creates an uncompressed archive named archive.tar containing file1.txt and file2.txt

C Extracts files from archive.tar into the current directory

D Lists the contents of archive.tar without extracting

💡 Hint

The -c option means create, and -f specifies the archive file name.

The command creates an uncompressed archive named archive.tar containing the specified files. It does not compress or extract files.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What does this command output?

You run tar -tf archive.tar. What is the output?

Linux CLI

tar -tf archive.tar

A Lists the names of files inside archive.tar

B Extracts all files from archive.tar

C Creates a new archive named archive.tar

D Deletes archive.tar

💡 Hint

The -t option lists contents without extracting.

The -t option lists the files inside the archive without extracting them.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this tar extraction command fail?

You run tar -xf archive.tar.gz but get an error saying 'Cannot open: Not in gzip format'. What is the problem?

Linux CLI

tar -xf archive.tar.gz

A The archive is not compressed with gzip, so -z option is missing

B The archive file does not exist

C The archive is corrupted

D The -x option is invalid for extraction

💡 Hint

Check if the archive is compressed and if the correct option is used.

The -z option tells tar to decompress gzip archives. Without it, tar treats the file as uncompressed and fails if it is compressed.

🚀 Application

advanced

How to create a compressed archive with tar?

You want to create a gzip compressed archive named backup.tar.gz containing the directory project. Which command achieves this?

A tar -cf backup.tar.gz project

B tar -tf backup.tar.gz project

C tar -xf backup.tar.gz project

D tar -czf backup.tar.gz project

💡 Hint

Use the option that compresses with gzip while creating.

The -z option compresses with gzip. The -c option creates the archive, and -f specifies the filename.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What is the effect of this tar command?

What does the command tar --exclude='*.log' -czf archive.tar.gz /var/logs do?

A Extracts files from archive.tar.gz excluding .log files

B Creates a gzip compressed archive of /var/logs including all files

C Creates a gzip compressed archive of /var/logs excluding files ending with .log

D Lists files in /var/logs excluding .log files

💡 Hint

The --exclude option skips files matching the pattern during archive creation.

The command creates a gzip compressed archive of /var/logs but skips all files ending with .log.

Practice

1. What does the tar -cvf archive.tar folder/ command do?

easy

A. Extracts files from archive.tar into the folder directory

B. Compresses the folder directory using gzip

C. Creates a tar archive named archive.tar containing the folder directory

D. Lists the contents of archive.tar without extracting

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the flags used

   The -c flag means create an archive, -v means verbose (show progress), and -f specifies the archive file name.

2. Step 2: Analyze the command effect

   The command creates a new archive file named archive.tar containing the contents of the folder/ directory.

3. Final Answer:

   Creates a tar archive named archive.tar containing the folder directory -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   tar -cvf = create archive [OK]

Hint: -c means create archive, -f specifies filename [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing -c (create) with -x (extract)
• Thinking -v compresses files
• Assuming it extracts files instead of creating

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to extract a gzip compressed tar archive named backup.tar.gz?

easy

A. tar -xvzf backup.tar.gz

B. tar -xvf backup.tar.gz

C. tar -cvf backup.tar.gz

D. tar -czf backup.tar.gz

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify extraction and compression flags

   -x extracts, -v shows progress, -z handles gzip compression, and -f specifies the file.

2. Step 2: Match flags to the command

   To extract a gzip compressed archive, use tar -xvzf filename. tar -xvzf backup.tar.gz matches this syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   tar -xvzf backup.tar.gz -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Extract gzip archive = -xvzf [OK]

Hint: -xvzf extracts gzip compressed tar files [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting -z when extracting gzip archives
• Using -c (create) instead of -x (extract)
• Confusing -v (verbose) as mandatory

3. What will be the output of the command tar -tvf archive.tar if archive.tar contains files file1.txt and file2.txt?

medium

A. Shows an error because -t cannot be combined with -v

B. Extracts file1.txt and file2.txt to current directory

C. Creates a new archive named archive.tar

D. Lists file1.txt and file2.txt with details without extracting

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the flags

   -t lists contents of an archive, -v shows details, and -f specifies the archive file.

2. Step 2: Predict the command output

   The command lists the files inside archive.tar with details, without extracting them.

3. Final Answer:

   Lists file1.txt and file2.txt with details without extracting -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   -t lists contents, -v shows details [OK]

Hint: -t lists archive contents, -v adds details [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it extracts files instead of listing
• Assuming -t and -v cannot be combined
• Confusing -t with -x

4. You run tar -cvzf archive.tar.gz folder/ but get an error. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The order of flags is incorrect; -z must come before -c

B. The folder/ directory does not exist

C. The -f flag must be last and followed by the filename

D. You cannot combine -v and -z flags

Solution

1. Step 1: Verify command syntax

   The flags -c (create), -v (verbose), -z (gzip), -f archive.tar.gz are correct, with filename immediately after -f.

2. Step 2: Determine error cause

   The syntax is valid, so the likely cause is that folder/ does not exist, causing a "Cannot stat: No such file or directory" error.

3. Final Answer:

   The folder/ directory does not exist -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   tar create error = missing source directory [OK]

Hint: tar create errors usually from missing source files/directories [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming flag order syntax error
• Overlooking if source directory exists
• Confusing with permission issues

5. You want to create a compressed archive of the project/ folder, but exclude all .log files inside it. Which command achieves this?

hard

A. tar -czvf project.tar.gz --exclude='*.log' project/

B. tar -czvf project.tar.gz project/ --exclude='*.log'

C. tar -cvzf project.tar.gz project/ --exclude='*.log'

D. tar -xvzf project.tar.gz --exclude='*.log' project/

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand exclusion and compression flags

   The --exclude='*.log' option excludes files matching the pattern. -c creates, -z compresses with gzip, -v shows progress, and -f specifies the archive filename.

2. Step 2: Check correct flag order and placement

   The exclude option must come before the folder argument. tar -czvf project.tar.gz --exclude='*.log' project/ correctly places --exclude='*.log' before project/ and uses correct flags.

3. Final Answer:

   tar -czvf project.tar.gz --exclude='*.log' project/ -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Exclude before folder, use -czvf for compressed archive [OK]

Hint: Put --exclude before folder, use -czvf to create compressed archive [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing --exclude after folder argument
• Using -x (extract) instead of -c (create)
• Mixing flag order or misspelling exclude