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CLI Open source 5,940 installs/mo

zlib for Mac

General-purpose lossless data-compression library

Quick answer: zlib is a command-line tool for macOS. Install it with brew install zlib. It is distributed under the Zlib licence. It has 5,940 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What zlib is

zlib is a command-line tool for macOS: general-purpose lossless data-compression library.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the Zlib licence.

How to install zlib

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install zlib.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install zlib on Mac?

Run brew install zlib in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is zlib open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the Zlib licence.

Does zlib run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is zlib?

It was installed 5,940 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #282 in this catalogue.

What version of zlib is current?

The latest packaged version is 1.3.2.