If you are an Android user, app developer, or tech enthusiast then probably you have heard the name APK. Here in this article, we are going to know what is APK, where we use it, how we create it, and many more.
What is the APK file?
Android Application Package is also known as APK is the file format used by the Android Operating system. APK or Android Package is actually a package file format. Package format contains programs and additional metadata. We use APK files to install apps, games, driver software on different android based operating systems.
How to create an APK file
You can use Android Studio to create an APK file of your Application. APK file contains codes, images, music, text files, and lots more. For example, you are making a book app that can show PDF books you wrote. To make this you have to use Android Studio or any other IDE. After finishing coding and testing you have to build or generate an APK file so that another user can use it.
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| Generate Signed APK in Android Studio |
An android user can directly install your app just by clicking on your generated APK file. So, your APK file contains PDF, codes for different activities. To make that file an Android program compiled using the IDE and then all of its parts are packaged into one container file.
An APK file can be named in any name but at the end of the name, we can see the .apk file extension. For example, think that you have created an app which is a book app. After generating an APK file you can rename it like bookapp.apk or any other name with a .apk file extension.
APK files can contain harmful things like viruses and malware. That is why the Android system does not allow the installation of an unknown android app. To install an unknown app (the app not published on Google Play Store) you have to enable unknown sources from the setting. Android systems authenticate every app or APK file using their package name and much other information. That information helps the Android system to know the version status, how old is that app.
Programs that open APK files:
Windows:
You can open APK files on windows using any kind of android emulator. LD player, KD player, Blue stacks, Nox, Memu player, Dolphin, Android studio AVD and many other programs can open and run APK files on Windows computers.
Mac:
Android emulators that supported by Mac OS can easily open and run APK files. Blue stacks, Nox, LD player are the most common example of Android emulator for Mac. Android Studio Virtual devices also known as AVD can run APK files on Mac.
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