---
title: "What is .apk extension?"  
description: "What is .apk extension?"  
author: "Pawan Shukla"  
published: 2018-01-23  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/33503/what-is-apk-extension  
category: "technology"  
tags: ["android"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is .apk extension?

What is .apk [extension](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/22/extension-method)?

## Answers

### Answer by Arti Mishra

**.apk Extension:** .apk stands for **Android Package Kit** extension & developed by **Google** under the OHA (Open Handset Alliance). It is used for distributing and installing collection of component on the Android Operating System. It also contain all the files that related to a single android application & this file itself compressed into a collection of files like AndroidManifest.xml file, resource file, application code(.dex file) and other files. Our android project are compiled into a single .apk file. ![What is .apk extension?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/32f0d173-e433-47fc-8661-7842a7e61608/images/740ada03-7919-4bdb-bc15-504005cb66d0.png)[Image Source](https://www.quora.com/What-is-an-APK-file)\
The .apk file extension contains the collection of **.dex (Dalvik Executable) file** that behave as a single project or application file for use with the android platform. It is simple just ZIP archive, but APK files have pre-defined specific structure. \


---

Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/33503/what-is-apk-extension

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.