A RAR (Roshal Archive) file is a proprietary format created by Eugene Roshal. It is a "compression" tool, which means it uses complex algorithms to pack multiple files into a single, smaller package.
RAR files often achieve better compression ratios than the more common ZIP format, making them a favorite for large software or media downloads.
If you see a file like this, it might be part of a set. RAR allows users to split one massive file into several smaller pieces (volumes) for easier uploading. How to Access the File
Unlike standard ZIP files, RAR supports "error recovery," which helps fix data if it gets corrupted during a download.
Because the format is proprietary, Windows and macOS do not always open them natively. You will need specialized software to "extract" or "unzip" the contents.