What is an APK file? and how does it works??

1. What is an APK file?

An APK file is an app created for Android, Google's mobile operating system. Some apps come pre-installed on Android devices, while other apps can be downloaded from Google Play. Apps downloaded from Google Play are automatically installed on your device, while those downloaded from other sources must be installed manually.

2. What does an APK file contain?

Android packages contain all the necessary files for a single Android program. Below is a list of the most prominent files and folders:

• META-INF/: Contains the manifest file, signature, and a list of resources in the archive
• lib/: Native libraries that run on specific device architectures (armeabi-v7a, x86, etc.)
• res/: Resources, such as images, that were not compiled into resources.arsc
• assets/: Raw resource files that developers bundle with the app
• AndroidManifest.xml: Describes the name, version, and contents of the APK file
• classes.dex: The compiled Java classes to be run on the device (.DEX file)
• resources.arsc: The compiled resources, such as strings, used by the app (.ARSC file)