Android package kit
(also APK)
Android package kit definition
An Android package kit is a file format that Android users can utilize to distribute, sell, and install apps and middleware on Android-based devices. An Android package kit has all the data an app needs to function, such as the app’s code, resources, and assets. All apps available for Android devices use APK files.
So if a developer wants to create an app and sell it in the Google Play Store, they need to configure their app in the Android package kit format. Otherwise, the app won’t be eligible for the Google Play Store.
An Android package kit contains multiple files and metadata in it. It is also a type of Java Archive file. When a user downloads an Android package kit, they don’t see the APK files because Google Play handles them. However, many websites offer direct Android package kit file downloads that users can install manually.
See also: file format, dynamic library
Android package kit common contents
- AndroidManifest.xml. – describes the name, version, library, access rights, and other contents of the APK file.
- assets/. – contains the app’s assets and resources.
- classes.dex. – contains the compiled Java classes.
- META-INF/. – contains the app manifest file, certificate, signature, and a resource list.
- lib/. – contains native libraries and platform-dependent code.
- res/. – contains resources that aren’t included in resources.arsc.
- resource.arsc. – contains the app’s pre-compiled resources.