Android App Bundles: Ship Less Code to Users
Instead of one giant APK, an Android App Bundle (AAB) lets Google Play build a smaller, custom APK for each user's device. This standard publishing format reduces app size and speeds up installs by delivering only the necessary components.
WHY IT EXISTS: Universal Android applications (APKs) used to contain code and resources for every possible device, leading to bloated downloads for every user. The Android App Bundle was created to solve this efficiency problem.
THE MENTAL MODEL: Think of an App Bundle not as the final app, but as a master blueprint. You give Google Play the complete blueprint, and it acts as a factory, building a custom, lightweight version of the app specifically for each user's device that requests it.
HOW IT WORKS: A developer uploads their application in the Android App Bundle (AAB) format to the Google Play Store. When a user downloads the app, the Play Store doesn't send the whole bundle. Instead, its servers dynamically generate and deliver an APK file containing only the components necessary for that specific user's device.
WHEN TO USE IT: The AAB is the standard publishing format for distributing applications efficiently through the Google Play Store. It should be used whenever you want to reduce your app's download size and improve the installation experience for users.
ONE CANONICAL EXAMPLE: The core process is the canonical example. A developer publishes their app as an AAB. The Play Store then generates a smaller APK for a user's phone, excluding components meant for other devices. The user experiences a faster download and installation because the APK is tailored to their device.
Read the original → en.wikipedia.org
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