1ZLIB(3)                    Library Functions Manual                    ZLIB(3)
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3
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NAME

6       zlib - compression/decompression library
7

SYNOPSIS

9       [see zlib.h for full description]
10

DESCRIPTION

12       The  zlib  library  is a general purpose data compression library.  The
13       code is thread safe, assuming that the standard library functions  used
14       are  thread  safe, such as memory allocation routines.  It provides in-
15       memory compression and  decompression  functions,  including  integrity
16       checks  of the uncompressed data.  This version of the library supports
17       only one compression method (deflation) but  other  algorithms  may  be
18       added later with the same stream interface.
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20       Compression  can  be  done  in  a  single step if the buffers are large
21       enough or can be done by repeated calls of  the  compression  function.
22       In the latter case, the application must provide more input and/or con‐
23       sume the output (providing more output space) before each call.
24
25       The library also supports reading and writing files  in  gzip(1)  (.gz)
26       format with an interface similar to that of stdio.
27
28       The  library  does  not install any signal handler.  The decoder checks
29       the consistency of the compressed data, so  the  library  should  never
30       crash even in the case of corrupted input.
31
32       All  functions  of  the  compression library are documented in the file
33       zlib.h.  The distribution  source  includes  examples  of  use  of  the
34       library  in  the files example.c and minigzip.c, as well as other exam‐
35       ples in the examples/ directory.
36
37       Changes to this version are  documented  in  the  file  ChangeLog  that
38       accompanies the source.
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40       zlib is available in Java using the java.util.zip package:
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42              http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Programming/com
43              pression/
44
45       A Perl interface to zlib, written by Paul Marquess (pmqs@cpan.org),  is
46       available  at  CPAN (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network) sites, includ‐
47       ing:
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49              http://search.cpan.org/~pmqs/IO-Compress-Zlib/
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51       A Python interface to zlib, written by A.M. Kuchling  (amk@magnet.com),
52       is available in Python 1.5 and later versions:
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54              http://www.python.org/doc/lib/module-zlib.html
55
56       zlib is built into tcl:
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58              http://wiki.tcl.tk/4610
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60       An experimental package to read and write files in .zip format, written
61       on top of zlib by Gilles Vollant (info@winimage.com), is available at:
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63              http://www.winimage.com/zLibDll/minizip.html  and  also  in  the
64              contrib/minizip directory of the main zlib source distribution.
65

SEE ALSO

67       The zlib web site can be found at:
68
69              http://zlib.net/
70
71       The  data  format used by the zlib library is described by RFC (Request
72       for Comments) 1950 to 1952 in the files:
73
74              http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1950.txt (for  the  zlib  header  and
75              trailer format)
76              http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1951.txt  (for the deflate compressed
77              data format)
78              http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1952.txt (for  the  gzip  header  and
79              trailer format)
80
81       Mark Nelson wrote an article about zlib for the Jan. 1997 issue of  Dr.
82       Dobb's Journal; a copy of the article is available at:
83
84              http://marknelson.us/1997/01/01/zlib-engine/
85

REPORTING PROBLEMS

87       Before reporting a problem, please check the zlib web  site  to  verify
88       that  you have the latest version of zlib; otherwise, obtain the latest
89       version and see if the problem still exists.  Please read the zlib  FAQ
90       at:
91
92              http://zlib.net/zlib_faq.html
93
94       before   asking   for   help.    Send   questions  and/or  comments  to
95       zlib@gzip.org, or (for the  Windows  DLL  version)  to  Gilles  Vollant
96       (info@winimage.com).
97

AUTHORS

99       Version 1.2.5 Copyright (C) 1995-2010 Jean-loup Gailly (jloup@gzip.org)
100       and Mark Adler (madler@alumni.caltech.edu).
101
102       This software is provided "as-is," without any express or implied  war‐
103       ranty.   In  no  event  will the authors be held liable for any damages
104       arising from the use of this software.  See the distribution  directory
105       with  respect  to  requirements  governing redistribution.  The deflate
106       format used by zlib was defined by Phil Katz.   The  deflate  and  zlib
107       specifications  were  written  by  L. Peter Deutsch.  Thanks to all the
108       people who reported problems  and  suggested  various  improvements  in
109       zlib; who are too numerous to cite here.
110
111       UNIX manual page by R. P. C. Rodgers, U.S. National Library of Medicine
112       (rodgers@nlm.nih.gov).
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116                                  19 Apr 2010                          ZLIB(3)
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