Android applications are distributed and installed using the Android Package (APK) file format. An APK is a complete package for an Android application, containing all the elements necessary for it to be properly installed on a device. An Android App Bundle (AAB) is a new application compilation format with greater efficiency than a normal APK. It allows developers to upload a single file to Google Play, which will then generate optimized APKs for each user's device.
Resource packs are groups of files intended for a group of devices, and by using an APK, developers can easily overcome the 150 MB size limit imposed by AABs. APK files are specific to the Android platform and cannot be used on other operating systems. However, they can be downloaded from sources other than the Play Store, and signing keys allow Android devices to verify that updates come from the same publisher as the currently installed application. APKs are a variant of the Java Archive (JAR) file format, and users should be careful when downloading them from untrusted websites, as they can damage their devices and the data stored on them.
When an APK is downloaded to a mobile phone, the installer decompresses all the files to install it as an application. In summary, Android is an operating system that allows users to install applications on their devices, while Android APK files are the packages used to distribute and install those applications. AABs are a new application compilation format with greater efficiency than normal APKs, but they have a size limit of 150 MB. Resource packs are groups of files intended for a group of devices, and signing keys allow Android devices to verify that updates come from the same publisher as the currently installed application.
