RAR archives are compacted files that permit us to save more than one file or directory in a single file. RAR files are quite versatile and practical since they ease storage and exchange of files and directories. The archives pack together the input files reducing the amount of space it takes on the hard disk. RAR archives are quite similar to Zip files but they use much improved compression algorithms and they are a excellent diskspace saving and organising algorithm. The file format was named by the author Eugene Roshal, who was the first to introduce this archiving method.
There are numerous ways to extract RAR files today. The most common way to open these archives is to use extraction programs that can be downloaded on the Interner. Some of them are freeware and some other are shareware. E.g. the most well-known application online is WinRar, though it is unfortunately commercial.
The best way to open RAR archies is to download one of the free RAR extractors available online. For example, 7-zip is a software that runs on all PCs and all common OS’s. This application features new features that are quite impressive when it comes to archive extraction.
In addition to these well known archivers there are numerous other programs that you can use to extract RAR archives. You can find some of these tools in the freeware rar extractor software list. Regardless of what you pick though, your files can always be set to automatically open in that application; this allows you to unzip and add them to the program menu or just by right-clicking on the files you want to unrar.
Finally, you can unzip RAR files online, as there are some extraction tools that require no installation. Openrar is one of these tools that allow you open your files with no fuss, or compact your files in one of the available archive formats.