TAR
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Tape archive |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Technology & Computing, Law & Legal |
TAR has two meanings. It stands for Tape archive (file format) or Technology-assisted review (litigation).
Meanings of TAR at a glance
| # | TAR stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tape archive | Technology & Computing › File Format |
| 2 | Technology-assisted review | Law & Legal › Litigation |
1. Tape archive
Technology & Computing · File Format Abbreviations
Unix archiving format that bundles many files and folders into one file while preserving permissions and directory structure, without compressing them. It is usually combined with a compressor, giving .tar.gz, .tar.xz or .tar.zst files.
Example: Download the source as a TAR file, then extract it with tar -xf.
The tar utility appeared in Version 7 Unix in 1979, originally for writing backups to magnetic tape. Because tar does not compress, the separate compression step treats the whole bundle as one stream, which often compresses better than compressing files individually. Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in tar command since 2018. Linux source code and many software releases are distributed as tarballs.
2. Technology-assisted review
Law & Legal · Litigation Abbreviations
Document review method in which machine-learning software, trained on attorneys' coding decisions for sample documents, ranks or classifies large collections for relevance. It reduces the number of documents lawyers must review by hand in large e-discovery projects.
Example: The producing party proposed using TAR with a validation sample to show 80 percent recall.
Also called predictive coding. Da Silva Moore v. Publicis Groupe (S.D.N.Y. 2012), decided by Magistrate Judge Andrew Peck, was the first published decision approving its use. Courts generally let producing parties choose their review methods but expect transparency about validation.
Related abbreviations
More file format abbreviations
- STEP – Standard for the Exchange of Product model data
- STL – Stereolithography
- SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics
- SWF – Small Web Format
- TIFF – Tagged Image File Format
- TMP – Temporary file
- TS – MPEG transport stream
- TSV – Tab-separated values
See all 125 file format abbreviations →
More litigation abbreviations
- AAA – American Arbitration Association
- ADR – Alternative dispute resolution
- AEO – Attorneys' eyes only
- Aff. – Affidavit
- AOS – Affidavit of service
- Br. – Brief
- CMC – Case management conference
- COA – Cause of action
See all 71 litigation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.