# Arca > Arca is an open-source, cross-platform archiver in safe Rust: ZIP, 7z and TAR, multi-threaded Zstandard, AES-256 encryption and a native desktop window. Arca 0.8.2 is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0. It ships as the `arca` command line, the `arca-gui` desktop window and a Windows 11 Explorer context menu, all built on one Rust core. Its archive parsers forbid `unsafe` code, so a malformed or hostile archive produces an error instead of memory corruption. ## When to use Arca - You need to create or extract ZIP (including Zip64), TAR or .tar.gz archives on Windows, macOS or Linux with one tool. - You want Zstandard or Deflate compression that uses every CPU core, or parallel extraction of .zip files. - You need AES-256 encrypted ZIP files that 7-Zip, WinRAR and NanaZip can open. - You extract archives from untrusted sources and want parsers that reject malformed input, with Zip Slip protection on every entry name. - You want a scriptable command line with a documented exit status, or a native desktop window, under a permissive license. Arca does not yet read or write 7z or xz/LZMA2, and does not create solid archives; see the roadmap. Every benchmark figure on the site links to the command that reproduces it. ## Getting started - [Introduction](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/introduction.md): A cross-platform archiver written in safe Rust, with a command line, a native window and one shared core. - [Installation](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/installation.md): Download a prebuilt binary for Windows, macOS or Linux, or build Arca from source with Cargo. - [Quick start](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/quick-start.md): Create, list, test and extract an archive in four commands. ## Using Arca - [Creating archives](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/creating-archives.md): Levels, codecs, threads and formats for arca create, including new RAR5 archives. - [Listing & extracting](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/listing-extracting.md): Look inside archives and unpack them in parallel and safely. - [Testing & benchmarking](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/testing-benchmarking.md): Verify archives without writing to disk, and measure performance reproducibly. - [Encryption](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/encryption.md): ZIP and 7z AES-256, hidden names, password checks and integrity limits. ## Desktop - [The desktop workspace](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/desktop-app.md): Browse archives like folders in a fast, keyboard-friendly native window. - [Keyboard shortcuts](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/keyboard-shortcuts.md): Every key the window understands. - [Windows integration](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/windows-integration.md): The File Explorer context menu and the Windows installer. ## Reference - [CLI reference](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/cli-reference.md): Every command, argument, option and default of the arca binary. - [Architecture](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/architecture.md): The crates that make up Arca and the unsafe policy that holds them together. - [Interoperability](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/interoperability.md): What interop.sh verifies against unzip, tar, xz and 7-Zip. - [Benchmarks](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/benchmarks.md): Every measurement, the machine behind it, and the cases Arca loses. - [Roadmap](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/roadmap.md): What isn’t there yet, and why some of it matters. - [Contributing & license](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/contributing.md): How to build, test and contribute, and the Apache-2.0 license. - [RAR](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/rar.md): Read RAR/CBR archives, including multivolume sets, passwords and verified extraction, and create new single-volume RAR5 archives. - [ISO disc images](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/iso.md): Read ISO 9660 disc images (Rock Ridge, Joliet, multi-extent files) without ever writing one. - [ZIP containers](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/docs/zip-containers.md): Open, list, test and extract APK, JAR, EPUB, CBZ, wheels and other ZIP-based files without renaming them, and why Arca keeps them read-only. ## Documentación en español - [Introducción](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/introduction.md): Un archivador multiplataforma escrito en Rust seguro, con línea de comandos, ventana nativa y un núcleo compartido. - [Instalación](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/installation.md): Descarga un binario precompilado para Windows, macOS o Linux, o compila Arca desde el código fuente con Cargo. - [Guía rápida](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/quick-start.md): Crea, lista, verifica y extrae un archivo en cuatro comandos. - [Crear archivos](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/creating-archives.md): Niveles, códecs, hilos y formatos para arca create, incluidos los nuevos archivos RAR5. - [Listar y extraer](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/listing-extracting.md): Mira dentro de los archivos y extráelos en paralelo y con seguridad. - [Pruebas y benchmarking](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/testing-benchmarking.md): Verifica archivos sin escribir en disco, y mide el rendimiento de forma reproducible. - [Cifrado](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/encryption.md): AES-256 en ZIP y 7z, nombres ocultos, contraseñas y límites de integridad. - [El espacio de trabajo de escritorio](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/desktop-app.md): Navega por archivos comprimidos como si fueran carpetas, en una ventana nativa rápida y pensada para el teclado. - [Atajos de teclado](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/keyboard-shortcuts.md): Todas las teclas que entiende la ventana. - [Integración con Windows](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/windows-integration.md): El menú contextual del Explorador de archivos y el instalador de Windows. - [Referencia de la CLI](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/cli-reference.md): Cada comando, argumento, opción y valor por defecto del binario arca. - [Arquitectura](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/architecture.md): Los crates que forman Arca y la política de unsafe que los mantiene unidos. - [Interoperabilidad](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/interoperability.md): Qué verifica interop.sh frente a unzip, tar y 7-Zip. - [Benchmarks](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/benchmarks.md): Cada medición, la máquina detrás y los casos donde Arca pierde. - [Hoja de ruta](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/roadmap.md): Lo que todavía no está, y por qué importa parte de ello. - [Contribuir y licencia](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/contributing.md): Cómo compilar, probar y contribuir, y la licencia Apache-2.0. - [RAR](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/rar.md): Lee archivos RAR/CBR, con multivolumen, contraseñas y extracción verificada, y crea nuevos archivos RAR5 de un solo volumen. - [Imágenes de disco ISO](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/iso.md): Leer imágenes de disco ISO 9660 (Rock Ridge, Joliet, ficheros multiextensión) sin escribir nunca una. - [Contenedores ZIP](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/docs/zip-containers.md): Abre, lista, comprueba y extrae APK, JAR, EPUB, CBZ, wheels y otros archivos basados en ZIP sin renombrarlos, y por qué Arca los deja en solo lectura. ## Optional - [Full guide in one file](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/llms-full.txt): every English guide page, concatenated. - [Source code](https://github.com/beyondhumane/arca): Rust workspace, issues and pull requests. - [Releases](https://github.com/beyondhumane/arca/releases): installers and binaries for Windows, macOS and Linux. - [Home page](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/) · [Página en español](https://arca.beyondhumane.com/es/)