What is StuffIt, and how do I decode Stuffed archives?

StuffIt is primarily a Mac OS format for file compression and archiving. Unlike most other standards, it was designed with the Mac OS dual-forked file structure in mind and has the capability to store several files and even entire folder hierarchies all in one stuffed archive.

Although StuffIt remains popular in Mac OS X, Apple and many other developers now distribute programs as disk images instead. In 10.4 ("Tiger"), Apple stopped bundling StuffIt Expander with the operating system, though it is still available for download.

Stuffed files can usually be identified by the .sit or .sitx extension at the end of their filenames. Typically, when sent over email or transferred via FTP or the web, these archives will also be encoded in MacBinary or BinHex, which add either a .bin or .hqx after the .sit or .sea extension. Safari, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, and other Internet applications are able to unstuff and decode archives with the help of StuffIt Expander.

Also see:

• For Microsoft Windows, how can I get freeware and shareware?
• What is BinHex, and how can I decode a BinHex (.hqx) file?
• In Mac OS and Mac OS X, how do I compress and archive folders, files, and applications with StuffIt?
• In Mac OS and Mac OS X, how do I use StuffIt products to decode encoded files and expand compressed files?
• How do I decode a file with a .sit or .sea extension?
• What is StuffIt Expander, and where can I get it?
• For Mac OS X, where can I download freeware, shareware, commercial software, and software updates?