Android App Bundle is the
Android application publishing
file format
A file format is a standard way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file. It specifies how bits are used to encode information in a digital storage medium. File formats may be either proprietary or free.
Some file formats ...
. The App Bundle must include the application's
compile
In computing, a compiler is a computer program that translates computer code written in one programming language (the ''source'' language) into another language (the ''target'' language). The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that ...
d code and resources, which allows for the signing and generation of
APK files to be deferred to the
app store
An App Store (or app marketplace) is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not include the running of the co ...
, reducing the initial download size of the app.
The file extension used for this format is ".aab".
Google Play
Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store and formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certified devices running on the Android (operating sys ...
requires Android App Bundles for all new apps since August 2021 and for all updates to preexisting apps since November 2021.
Starting in May 2023, Android TV will require AABs.
Split APKs
Without Android App Bundles, an
APK can support multiple languages, up to four different
CPU architectures, and several
display resolution
The display resolution or display modes of a digital television, computer monitor or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is ...
s.
This meant that each installation file could contain potentially large amounts of
bloat irrelevant for a device's specific combination of CPU, locale, and screen size.
Split APKs, which are generated by an app store like Google Play, contain only the code and resources that are needed for the specific device downloading the app.
If the user changes their device language or feature set, the app store can then deliver additional split APKs on demand to meet the changed requirements.
Android App Bundles are required for using "play as you download" feature of Google Play, which lets users download and install a portion of the game to start playing and then download the rest while the user is occupied by the first level.
See also
*
Android software development
Android software development is the process by which applications are created for devices running the Android operating system. Google states that "Android apps can be written using Kotlin, Java, and C++ languages" using the Android software ...
*
apk (file format)
References
Android (operating system)
Computer file formats
{{Google-stub