In Google I/O 2018, a new publishing format has been introduced for Android applications called Android App Bundle. It is a new upload format that includes all your app’s compiled code and resources, but defers APK generation and signing to Google Play. Traditionally, Android apps are distributed using a special file called an Android Package(.apk).
Why should we use this new format?
- Dynamic Delivery : Google Play’s new app serving model, called Dynamic Delivery, uses your app bundle to generate and serve optimized APKs for each user’s device configuration, so they download only the code and resources they need to run your app. For example, you don’t need other languages strings if you have set English as your default language.
- No need to manually manage multiple APKs : You no longer have to build, sign, and manage multiple APKs to support different devices, and users get smaller, more optimized downloads. For example, now you don’t have to create multiple APKs for devices with different screen resolutions.
- Dynamic Feature Module : These modules contain features and assets that you can decide not to include when users first download and install your app. Using the Play Core Library, your app can later request to download those modules as dynamic feature APKs. For example, video calling feature and camera filters can be downloaded later on demand.
- Reduced APK size : Using Split APK mechanism(explained later), Google Play can break up a large app into smaller, discrete packages that are installed on a user’s device as required. On average, apps published with app bundles are 20% smaller in size.
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