# What is a file with extension .rar?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-file-with-extension-rar/79568>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 3, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-file-with-extension-rar/79568 "2001-09-03T21:36:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-file-with-extension-rar/79568/1 "2001-09-03T21:36:54Z")

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I downloaded a program(zipped) and I find that all it has in it is a file slightly bigger than the zip with a .rar after it. Is this another file to be unzipped? Anyone have any idea what to do with this? Thanks

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**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-file-with-extension-rar/79568/2 "2001-09-03T21:44:10Z")

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Use winrar to un-rar it.

[http://www.rarsoft.com/](http://www.rarsoft.com/)