Click here

archive

(v.) (1) To copy files to a long-term storage medium for backup. Large computer systems often have two layers of backup, the first of which is a disk drive. Periodically, the computer operator will archive files on the disk to a second storage device, usually a tape drive.

On smaller systems, archiving is synonymous with backing up.

(2) To compress a file.

(n.) (1) A disk, tape, or directory that contains files that have been backed up.

(2) A file that contains one or more files in a compressed format.

(adj.) In DOS systems, the archive attribute marks files that have been modified since the last backup.



Top Terms

Connect with Webopedia

  • What is 250 GB Data Usage?

    What is 250 GB (250 gigabytes) and why is this phrase so popular? Webopedia explains what the phrase 250 GB means in reference to data storage...

    Read More »

Did You Know? Archive »

  • Quick Reference Archive »