Definitions for "Self-extracting archive"
An archive files that can extract itself. It is usually an executable program which contains both the compressed files and the decompressing program. Once executed it extracts the compressed files. You do not need to have the original program that created the archive installed on your computer.
This is a compressed file that when run automatically decompresses. Many files can be compressed and saved in one self-extracting archive. Self extracting archives can make a new directory to place the files. Self-extracting archives allow programs to be downloaded from the Internet faster and yet not require the user to have a file extraction utility.
an archive created as an executable file