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When opening an APK file with WinRar (software to open compressed files). I got a bunch of files packed inside the APK. Among them classes.dex is one. My question is what is the role of this file and if we modify/delete the same file will it affect the APK?
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The classes. dex file is a Dalvik Executable file that all Android applications must have. This file contains the Java libraries that the application uses. When you deploy an application for Android, RAD Studio includes a classes.
What is a Dex file? A Dex file contains code which is ultimately executed by the Android Runtime. Every APK has a single classes. dex file, which references any classes or methods used within an app.
Android developers know that dex compilation is a key step in building an APK. This is the process of transforming . class bytecode into . dex bytecode for the Android Runtime (or Dalvik, for older versions of Android).
The Dex compiler converts the class files into the . dex file that run on the Dalvik VM. Multiple class files are converted into one dex file. The javac tool compiles the java source file into the class file.
To make an APK file, a program for Android is first compiled, and then all of its parts are packaged into one file. This holds all of that program's code (These are the .dex files), resources, assets, certificates, and manifest file.
Programs are commonly written in Java and compiled to bytecode. They are then converted from Java Virtual Machine-compatible .class files to Dalvik-compatible .dex (Dalvik Executable) files before installation on a device. The compact Dalvik Executable format is designed to be suitable for systems that are constrained in terms of memory and processor speed.
As the .dex files holds the APK resources, any edit on these files will directly effect the APK.
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.dex file Compiled Android application code file.
From Android API GUIDES
Android programs are compiled into .dex (Dalvik Executable) files, which are in turn zipped into a single .apk file on the device. .dex files can be created by automatically translating compiled applications written in the Java programming language.
And yes if you will delete those files it will effect APK.
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