What is a series of instructions telling a computer how to read a compressed file?

A series of instructions telling a computer how to read a compressed file is typically referred to as a decompression algorithm. This algorithm processes the compressed data, interpreting its format and reconstructing the original file by reversing the compression process. Common decompression algorithms include ZIP, GZIP, and LZ77, each designed for specific compression techniques. The computer executes these instructions to restore the file to its usable form.