The Basics of APK Files for Android: The Android platform has been around for a long time. You might even remember the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, which made its debut in the United States in October 2008. In fact, Android itself was first announced in 2007.
However, the term APK wasn’t used until Google came out with the Android Market in early 2009. Since then, APKs have been the preferred app distribution format on Android.
What is an Android Package Kit (APK)?
In simple terms, an Android Package Kit (APK) is a digital file that contains most of the resources required by an Android application. It includes the application’s compiled code, assets, manifest, libraries, and other files.
This information is packaged inside a single file that enables the easy installation and location of the application on an Android device.
When you encounter APKs you might see them using any of the following extensions:
.apk – The standard and most common extension.
.apk.zip – The filename extension when the APK is zipped.
.apk.rar – The filename extension is used when the APK is in RAR format.
.apk.7z – The filename extension is used when the APK is in 7-Zip format.
So in essence, an APK is nothing more than a ZIP file but with a different extension. Android app developers use APKs to distribute and install their apps.
What Do You Use APK Files For?
APKs are used for installing and distributing mobile applications to a wide range of Android devices. There are two primary ways in which APKs are used.
1. For Installing Android Apps
You can use APKs to install Android apps on any Android device. Certain Android apps are only available as APKs.
Most Android smartphones that are sold have Google Play pre-installed. This means you can use them to install apps from the Google Play store. However, there are a lot of other Android devices that do not have Google Play support.
This becomes a problem when you want to install apps on your Android device. In this case, you can use APKs to download and install apps on your non-Google Play-supported Android device.
2. For Publishing Android Apps
You can use APKs to publish your Android apps to Google Play. To do this, you first need to configure your app to be published on Google Play, and then you can use APKs to upload it.
When you upload your apps to the Google Play store, you can choose to make them public or private. If you want to make your apps accessible to the general public, you need to take a few steps.
You should first download the Google Play Developer SDK. Once you have installed the SDK you can use it to create a developer account, publish your app, and do all other activities that you need to complete.
The Bottom Line: Understanding What an APK File Does
In summation, an APK is nothing more than an Android app packaged in a convenient and simple file format. By understanding APKs and how they can be used, you can make your Android app more accessible to users.
For more information on APK files, and how to install them on Android devices, check out Jim’s Techs below.
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