What's the difference between APK (.apk) and app bundle (.aab)?

APK VS AAB

What Is an APK File?

APK is an archive file, like ZIP and RAR, which means it contains multiple files as well as some metadata about them.

The Drawbacks of Installing APK Files

• APK files are widely available on the internet from a variety of sources.

• There have also been reports of hackers modifying APK files and adding extra app permission.

• The problem of the large size of the (.apk) file.

What is the benefit of using AAB over APK?

First of all, let's define what exactly are Android App Bundles (AAB)?

AAB is a container that holds a base APK as well as multiple split-APKs.

The advantage of Android App Bundle over APK on PlayStore:

• Reduced Download Size (reduce the app Download size).

• customization options (Developers can also choose which features to include on a specific device type).

• Asset-only modules.

The disadvantages:

• sharing the private signing key with Google.

• may make things more difficult for third-party app stores.