Terminology reference
Android package glossary
Definitions of common terms used in Android application packaging, compatibility, installation and troubleshooting.
- ABI
- Application Binary Interface. The processor and native-library format supported by an Android package, such as arm64-v8a or x86_64.
- ADB
- Android Debug Bridge. A command-line tool used to communicate with an Android device, install packages, inspect logs and run diagnostic commands.
- Android App Bundle
- A developer publishing format containing the complete application definition. Distribution services generate optimized APK files from the bundle for individual devices.
- APK
- Android Package Kit. The standard package format processed by the Android package installer.
- APKM
- A vendor-specific archive commonly containing a base APK, split APK files and package metadata.
- APKS
- An archive containing an APK set, often generated from an Android App Bundle using bundletool.
- Base APK
- The core application package in a split installation. It may require additional configuration or feature splits.
- Bundletool
- A command-line utility used to generate and install APK sets from Android App Bundles.
- Density split
- A split APK containing graphics or resources optimized for a particular screen-density range.
- Device profile
- A collection of device characteristics such as Android version, architecture, language, screen density and supported features.
- Manifest
- The AndroidManifest.xml file describing package identity, components, permissions, supported features and application requirements.
- Minimum SDK
- The lowest Android API level on which the application is allowed to install.
- OBB
- Expansion data used by some large applications and games. It is stored separately from the APK under the matching Android OBB directory.
- Package name
-
The unique Android application identifier, such as
com.example.app. - Package signature
- Cryptographic information identifying the signing key used for an Android package.
- Play Protect
- Google’s Android security service that scans applications for known harmful behavior and suspicious packages.
- SDK
- Software Development Kit. In compatibility contexts, SDK levels correspond to Android API versions.
- SHA-256
- A cryptographic hash function used to produce a reproducible fingerprint for a file.
- Split APK
- A package containing only part of an app, such as a language, architecture, screen-density or feature component.
- Target SDK
- The Android API level whose behavior and requirements the developer has declared for the application.
- Universal APK
- A standalone APK containing resources and libraries for multiple device configurations. It is usually larger than an optimized package.
- Version code
- An internal integer used by Android to compare application releases and determine update order.
- Version name
- The user-facing application version displayed in app information, such as 12.4.1.
- XAPK
- An archive format that may contain APK files, split packages, OBB data and supporting metadata.