They act like folders on your computer, but with the added benefits of compression and portability. Extensions: Identified by the .zip or .ZIP file extension.
On iOS/iPhone, you can select files and select "Compress" to create an Archive.zip , which can then be shared or emailed. Differences: ZIP vs. "Add to Archive"
Cloud services like Dropbox can be used for sharing, or other formats like .7z (7-Zip) or .rar (WinRAR) for higher compression.
Generally implies simply combining files into a single, uncompressed container for organization, though modern tools often treat these terms interchangeably. If you're having trouble with a specific file, let me know: Are you using Windows or Mac ?
Compresses files to save storage space and decrease transmission time.
Modern operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux have built-in tools to create ("Compress") or open ("Extract") them, usually by right-clicking the file.