NAME

       zlib - compression/decompression library

SYNOPSIS

       [see zlib.h for full description]

DESCRIPTION

       The  zlib library is a general purpose data compression library.  The code is thread safe,
       assuming that the standard  library  functions  used  are  thread  safe,  such  as  memory
       allocation  routines.   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) but other algorithms may be added later with the
       same stream interface.

       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.   The
       distribution  source  includes  examples of use of the library in the files test/example.c
       and test/minigzip.c, as well as other examples in the examples/ directory.

       Changes to this version are documented in the file ChangeLog that accompanies the source.

       zlib is available in Java using the java.util.zip package:

              http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Programming/compression/

       A Perl interface to zlib, written by Paul Marquess (pmqs@cpan.org), is available  at  CPAN
       (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network) sites, including:

              http://search.cpan.org/~pmqs/IO-Compress-Zlib/

       A  Python  interface  to  zlib, written by A.M. Kuchling (amk@magnet.com), is available in
       Python 1.5 and later versions:

              http://docs.python.org/library/zlib.html

       zlib is built into tcl:

              http://wiki.tcl.tk/4610

       An experimental package to read and write files in .zip format, written on top of zlib  by
       Gilles Vollant (info@winimage.com), is available at:

              http://www.winimage.com/zLibDll/minizip.html   and   also  in  the  contrib/minizip
              directory of the main zlib source distribution.

SEE ALSO

       The zlib web site can be found at:

              http://zlib.net/

       The data format used by the zlib 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 zlib web site to verify  that  you  have  the
       latest  version of zlib; otherwise, obtain the latest version and see if the problem still
       exists.  Please read the zlib FAQ at:

              http://zlib.net/zlib_faq.html

       before asking for help.  Send questions and/or comments  to  zlib@gzip.org,  or  (for  the
       Windows DLL version) to Gilles Vollant (info@winimage.com).

AUTHORS

       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).

                                           28 Apr 2013                                    ZLIB(3)