What does the 'tar -cvf' command do in Linux?

The command 'tar -cvf' is used to create a new archive file in Linux. The 'c' option stands for "create," indicating that a new archive is being formed. The 'v' option means "verbose," which instructs the command to provide a detailed output of the files being processed, displaying their names as they are added to the archive. The 'f' option indicates that the next argument will be the name of the archive file that is to be created.

When you run this command, you are effectively gathering multiple files and directories into a single file, known as a tarball, which simplifies handling, transferring, or storing them. It's essential for tasks such as backups or distribution of a collection of files.

The other options pertain to different functionalities offered by the 'tar' command but do not describe the purpose of 'tar -cvf'. For example, extracting files from an archive would require the 'x' option instead of 'c', while compressing files involves tools like gzip or bzip2 rather than the 'tar' command itself. Listing the contents can be done using the 't' option, which is distinct from archiving.