ART (Android Runtime)

ART (Android Runtime) is a new format for Android executables introduced with Android 5.0 "Lollipop" (with a preliminary version available earlier in Android 4.4 "KitKat"), replacing Dalvik Executable (DEX). It is still "virtual code" independent of the actual machine hardware, but instead of being interpreted on the fly, it is compiled in advance at the time an app is installed on an Android device.

Both ART and DEX executables typically come to the end user embedded in an APK installation archive.

Links

 * Android ART: Google finally moves to replace Dalvik, to boost performance and battery life
 * ART and Dalvik
 * ART vs Dalvik - Introducing the New Android* x86 Runtime