Application Structure

Applications are packaged into a single file: APK.

• Applications are packaged into a single file: APK.

APK Content

• ETA-INF/MANIFEST.MF: Same use as in the JAR format.

  • May have additional key/value pairs for Android-specific metadata.

• META-INF/*: Other files (for example *.version) that are used to add more detail.

• classes.dex: Compiled and bundled Android classes.

  • APK may contain other dex files such as classes1.dex, classes2.dex…

• *.properties: Configuration parameters for frameworks used by the app.

• res/**: Static resources bundled so that they could be used at run-time by the app.

• resources.arsc: A file of compiled resources that are bundled together

  • similar to classes.dex but for non-executable objects.

APK Files