# tar without paths

[linux - tar - Remove leading directory components on extraction - Server Fault](https://serverfault.com/questions/330127/tar-remove-leading-directory-components-on-extraction)

You want to use the `--strip-components=NUMBER` option of `tar`:

```
 --strip-components=NUMBER
```

strip NUMBER leading components from file names on extraction

Your command would be:

```
tar xfz /var/www/site.gz --strip-components=2 -C /tmp
```

[Reference](https://serverfault.com/a/330131)