These are the foundational versions of the format, though they have little formal documentation.

It supports strong AES-256 encryption for both file contents and filenames, preventing unauthorized users from even seeing the list of files in the archive. Usage and Security

RAR can include a "recovery record," allowing users to repair archives that become corrupted during download or storage.

It can split massive folders into smaller, numbered parts (e.g., .part001.rar ), making them easier to transfer across multiple disks or limited email attachments.