Linear compressor

A linear compressor provided with an anti-collision device for preventing a piston from coming into collision with a cylinder head and/or a suction valve even when the piston moves past its upper dead center position. The anti-collision device prevents the piston of the compressor from being brought into collision with the cylinder head and/or the suction valve even when the piston moves past its upper dead center position during an operation of the compressor. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the piston and the cylinder head having the suction valve, from breaking. The linear compressor having the anti-collision device of this invention almost completely prevents a collision of the piston with the suction valve or the cylinder head during an operation, thus minimizing the gap between the piston and the cylinder head when the piston reaches its upper dead center position. Therefore, the linear compressor of this invention has improved operational performance and improved volumetric efficiency without being enlarged in its size.