Does 7z compress better than zip?

Does 7z compress better than ZIP? Yes, 7z (using the 7-Zip compression format) generally compresses better than ZIP, especially for certain types of files. Here are some key points to consider regarding the performance and efficiency of 7z compared to ZIP:

Compression Efficiency

1. Compression Algorithms: The 7z format typically uses the LZMA (Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm) for compression, which provides better compression ratios compared to the standard Deflate algorithm used by ZIP. This results in smaller archive sizes, especially when compressing larger files.

2. Type of Files: The compression efficiency of 7z excels with:
Text-based files: Documents, code files, etc. (e.g., .txt, .csv)
Images: High-resolution, uncompressed file formats (e.g., .bmp, .raw)
Video Files: While videos are already compressed, using 7z can still provide some additional reduction, particularly with lower-compression formats.
Large datasets: Databases or datasets can benefit from 7z’s improved compression ratios.

3. File Types for ZIP: On the other hand, ZIP may be more efficient for pre-compressed files (e.g., .mp4, .jpg, .png), where additional compression may not yield significant size reductions. In some cases, using ZIP may also provide faster compression/decompression speed.