---
name: "nix3-nar"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "nix-bin"
version: "2.26.3+dfsg-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nix3-nar"
---

# nix3-nar(1)

create or inspect NAR files

**Warning** \
 This program is **experimental** ⟨@docroot@/development/experimental-features.md#xp-feature-nix-command⟩ and its interface is subject to change.

## Name

`nix nar` - create or inspect NAR files

## Synopsis

`nix nar` \[*option*…\] *subcommand*

where *subcommand* is one of the following:

- •

  `nix nar cat` ⟨./nix3-nar-cat.md⟩ - print the contents of a file inside a NAR file on stdout

- •

  `nix nar dump-path` ⟨./nix3-nar-dump-path.md⟩ - serialise a path to stdout in NAR format

- •

  `nix nar ls` ⟨./nix3-nar-ls.md⟩ - show information about a path inside a NAR file

- •

  `nix nar pack` ⟨./nix3-nar-pack.md⟩ - serialise a path to stdout in NAR format

## Description

`nix nar` provides several subcommands for creating and inspecting *Nix Archives* (NARs) ⟨@docroot@/store/file-system-object/content-address.md#serial-nix-archive⟩\\c .

## File format

For the definition of the Nix Archive file format, see within the protocols chapter ⟨@docroot@/protocols/nix-archive.md⟩ of the manual.

## Options

### Logging-related options

- •

  `--debug` ⟨#opt-debug⟩

-

  Set the logging verbosity level to ‘debug’.

- •

  `--log-format` ⟨#opt-log-format⟩ *format*

-

  Set the format of log output; one of `raw`, `internal-json`, `bar` or `bar-with-logs`.

- •

  `--print-build-logs` ⟨#opt-print-build-logs⟩ / `-L`

-

  Print full build logs on standard error.

- •

  `--quiet` ⟨#opt-quiet⟩

-

  Decrease the logging verbosity level.

- •

  `--verbose` ⟨#opt-verbose⟩ / `-v`

-

  Increase the logging verbosity level.

### Miscellaneous global options

- •

  `--help` ⟨#opt-help⟩

-

  Show usage information.

- •

  `--offline` ⟨#opt-offline⟩

-

  Disable substituters and consider all previously downloaded files up-to-date.

- •

  `--option` ⟨#opt-option⟩ *name* *value*

-

  Set the Nix configuration setting *name* to *value* (overriding `nix.conf`).

- •

  `--refresh` ⟨#opt-refresh⟩

-

  Consider all previously downloaded files out-of-date.

- •

  `--version` ⟨#opt-version⟩

-

  Show version information.

  **Note**

  See `man nix.conf` ⟨@docroot@/command-ref/conf-file.md#command-line-flags⟩ for overriding configuration settings with command line flags.