What is the purpose of the .zip file extension?

The .zip file extension is specifically designed to signify a compressed file. This means that it is used to package one or more files into a single file while reducing the overall file size through compression techniques. By compressing files, .zip formats not only conserve storage space but also make it easier to transfer multiple files together, as users can send or download a single compressed file instead of handling several individual files. Compression also helps in organizing related files, as they can be grouped together for convenience. Other file formats such as audio and image files serve different specific functions and are not associated with file compression, which makes the .zip extension distinct in its purpose.