untar a specific file

February 27, 2025


tar

For detailed information, take a look at

man tar


List all files within the tar archive:

$ tar -ztf test.tar.gz
# -z: decompress with gzip.
# -t: list contents of the archive.
# -f: archive name.

## Possible Output:
# .bashrc
# ./.bash_aliases
# ./.dotfiles/vim/.vimrc

Extract a specific file:

$ tar -zxvf test.tar.gz ./.dotfiles/vim/.vimrc
# -x: extract files.
# -v: verbose.

## Possible Output:
# ./.dotfiles/vim/.vimrc

$ ls -RA .dotfiles/
# .dotfiles/:
# vim
#
# .dotfiles/vim:
# .vimrc

Note

  • Use the exact file name, as listed in the tar -ztf test.tar.gz result.
  • The extracted file will be stored with exactly that file name. Directories will be created automatically.