Command to extract and "untar" a file

This is a two step command to extract and untar the file.
#gunzip "filename".tar.gz
#tar xvf "filename".tar

This is a one step command to extract and untar the file.

#tar zvxf "filename".tar.gz

 

z = Gunzip(uncompress) it before extracting, used on file ending in .tar.gz or .tgz

x = Extract the contents of the TAR file

v = Verbose - display contents as it is tarring or extracting

f =  Filename to follow