To search files within a ZIP archive without extracting it, you inspect the archive's metadata directly. ZIP files contain a central directory listing all compressed files and folders along with their names, sizes, and timestamps, but not the actual file content unless decompressed. Specialized software or features within file managers use this directory to let you search and view filenames without expanding the entire archive.

For example, many file explorers like Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder allow browsing ZIP files as if they were folders. You can type a filename in the search bar while viewing the ZIP's contents. Developers often search within ZIPs containing software libraries to find specific class files (e.g., .jar files in Java) using tools like grep paired with utilities such as zipgrep on Linux/macOS command lines.

This method saves time and disk space compared to full extraction. However, limitations include the inability to search inside file contents (only filenames/paths are indexed) and potential performance issues with very large archives. It also offers convenience for previewing contents but requires trust in the archive's source, as hidden or malicious files could be present without obvious signs.