RAR (Roshal Archive) is a proprietary archive file format that supports data compression, error recovery, and file spanning. It is commonly used to package and distribute large files or collections of files into a single, more manageable archive. RAR archives can be split into multiple parts, making them easier to transfer over networks or store on removable media. The format offers a higher compression ratio compared to older formats like ZIP, resulting in smaller file sizes. RAR also includes features like password protection and encryption, enhancing the security of the archived data. It's a popular choice for archiving software, documents, multimedia files, and other types of data. RAR files are often used for distributing software, games, and other large files online. The format is widely supported by various archiving tools and utilities across different operating systems.