What does it mean if an operating system can handle zip files without third-party applications?

When an operating system can handle zip files without third-party applications, it implies that the OS has built-in functionality to manage these types of compressed files. This capability typically includes both creating new zip files and extracting files from existing zip archives.

Many modern operating systems incorporate features that allow users to easily manage compressed file formats like zip. This dual functionality is essential because users often need to not only extract files for use but also create zip files to compress and bundle multiple files together for easier sharing or storage.

The other options lack the complete functionality described by the correct answer. For example, only being able to extract files does not encompass the ability to create zip files, which is a key part of handling zip files effectively. Similarly, asserting that the OS cannot handle zip files at all contradicts the premise of the question. Lastly, limiting the capability to merely compress files without the ability to extract them does not align with the comprehensive handling expected from the correct answer.