A software application for Linux is typically distributed as a Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) package, which is an archive that contains several files and directories.
The DNF package management system keeps track of the repositories that are available in the system and the software that is installed, resolves package dependencies, and checks for updates.
The Flatpak system uses containers to install applications. Fedora uses a Flatpak repository to distribute software that is compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
The GNOME Software tool uses the DNF and Flatpak systems to search for and install graphical applications.
Archives are binary files that can contain multiple files and directories. Archives are typically compressed. You can use archives to send or store one consolidated file.
You can use command-line or graphical tools to create archives in different formats, and you can use various tools for compression. You can also implement password protection.