What is the function of the 'tar' command?

The 'tar' command is primarily used for archiving files in Unix and Linux systems. It stands for "tape archive" and allows users to combine multiple files and directories into a single file, known as a tarball, for easy storage or transmission. This functionality is particularly useful for backup purposes or when you want to package files together for easier management.

When using 'tar', you can create an archive file, extract files from an existing archive, and manipulate archived content in various ways. The command can also work with compression options, such as gzip or bzip2, which can further reduce the size of the archive while retaining the benefits of file organization and transport.

Other functions mentioned, such as transmitting files over the network, encrypting files, or changing file ownership, are not related to what the 'tar' command is designed to do. While there are separate commands or tools that handle those specific tasks—such as scp or rsync for file transmission, openssl for encryption, and chown for changing ownership—'tar' remains focused on the archiving function.