ZLIB(3)

NAME
libz - compression/decompression library

SYNOPSIS
[see zlib.h for full description]

DESCRIPTION
The libz library is a general purpose data compression library. The code is thread safe. It provides in-memory compression and decompression functions, including integrity checks of the uncompressed data. This version of the library supports only one compression method (deflation).

Compression can be done in a single step if the buffers are large enough or can be done by repeated calls of the compression function. In the latter case, the application must provide more input and/or consume the output (providing more output space) before each call.

The library also supports reading and writing files in gzip(1) (.gz) format with an interface similar to that of stdio.

The library does not install any signal handler. The decoder checks the consistency of the compressed data, so the library should never crash even in the case of corrupted input.

All functions of the compression library are documented in the file zlib.h.

SEE ALSO
The Sortix zlib web site can be found at:

    https://sortix.org/libz/

The data format used by the libz library is described by RFC (Request for Comments) 1950 to 1952 in the files:

    http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1950 (for the zlib header and trailer format)
    http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1951 (for the deflate compressed data format)
    http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1952 (for the gzip header and trailer format)

Mark Nelson wrote an article about zlib for the Jan. 1997 issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal; a copy of the article is available at:

    http://marknelson.us/1997/01/01/zlib-engine/

REPORTING PROBLEMS
Before reporting a problem, please check the libz web site to verify that you have the latest version of libz; otherwise, obtain the latest version and see if the problem still exists. Please read the FAQ at the website before asking for help.

AUTHORS
This is Sortix libz. This is not zlib.

Sortix libz is based on the offical Zlib version 1.2.8 release.

Zlib version 1.2.8 Copyright (C) 1995-2013 Jean-loup Gailly (jloup@gzip.org) and Mark Adler (madler@alumni.caltech.edu).

This software is provided "as-is," without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software. See the distribution directory with respect to requirements governing redistribution. The deflate format used by zlib was defined by Phil Katz. The deflate and zlib specifications were written by L. Peter Deutsch. Thanks to all the people who reported problems and suggested various improvements in zlib; who are too numerous to cite here.

UNIX manual page by R. P. C. Rodgers, U.S. National Library of Medicine (rodgers@nlm.nih.gov); subsequently adapted by Sortix libz.