Since macOS is based on Unix there are a number of ways to compress files and folders within the filing system using Unix based application code, below are a few options using the Terminal or command line interface (cli). The default command line application interface in macOS is the Terminal and is stored in /Applications/Utilities.

1. Rsync For Mac
2. Gzip Software For Mac

Gzip will only attempt to compress regular files. In particular, it will ignore symbolic links. If the compressed file name is too long for its file system, gzip truncates it. Gzip attempts to truncate only the parts of the file name longer than 3 characters. (a 'part' is delimited by dots.). If somebody is still finding this question when searching 'gzip in Mac', I wrote a guide that it may be useful to somebody else. Here it goes: Compressing. The most basic command will compress the file filename.ext and then replace it with filename.ext.gz in the same directory. Gzip filename.ext.

File and folder compression saves on file size and ensures the contents are captured and delivered or stored as one monolithic file. A compressed file which contains files and folders is generally referred to as an archive. Here are some built-in compression applications you can use including zip, tar, gz, bz2, gz and dmg.

ZIP – Cross Platform

First up is ZIP one of the most commonly used compression techniques used across all platforms

To compress

To extract

If you want to make a zip without those invisible Mac resource files such as “_MACOSX” or “._Filename” and .ds store files, use the “-X” option in the command so:

Rsync For Mac

TAR.GZ – Cross Platform

Second up is TAR, an old favorite on Unix/Linux – you add the GZ for the compression – compresses tighter than zip

To compress

To extract

TAR.BZ2 – Cross Platform

A variation on TAR GZ but with better compression than both tar.gz and zip.

To compress

To extract

GZ

Without the tar

To extract

DMG – macOS Only

Gzip Software For Mac

This one is macOSnative only – for a GUI interface use /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility – for command line use:

To create

To mount

To view

To Eject

You can also use a number of different formats for creating a .dmg

• UDZO – Compressed image (default)
• UDRO – Read-only image
• UDBZ – Better compressed image
• UDRW – Read/Write image
• UDTO – DVD disk image

That’s the low down, the more common compression packages available will typically be covered in one of the above.