today i wanted to know how to compress zip files in linux. i wanted to copy a whole directory and compres it so i can download to my computer.

well, if you want to know how you can compress files or directories to zip format, all you have to do is send this shell command in linux:

zip -r new_file_name.zip /path/to/directory
FORMAT: zip -r [NEW FILE NAME] [TARGET]

to unzip it you can send this command in the unix shell:
unzip new_file_name.zip


here's more information about zip in linux or you can just send the man command:
man zip