What is a .ARC file?
ARC is one of the earliest PC archive formats.
- Did you know
- ARC, from the mid-1980s, sparked an early-PC legal fight that helped give rise to PKZIP.
- ARC was written by Thom Henderson of System Enhancement Associates, combining file grouping and compression into one archive.
- Although SEA won its lawsuit against Phil Katz, users migrated to his new PKZIP and ARC faded from use.
- What Analyser reads
- Read software packages and Unix archive streams: Python wheels, NuGet, Chrome/Firefox/VS Code extensions, Electron ASAR, Windows APPX/MSIX, Debian (DEB), RPM, RubyGems, conda, Anki, Microsoft CAB, cpio and ar - showing name, version, dependencies and the file tree.
- Depth of analysis
- .ARC is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .ARC file
- Drag a .ARC file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.