Package File (OS X)

A Package File is used in Mac OS X as an installation archive of a software package for distribution. Clicking on it on an OS X system will launch the Installer package to extract and install the software.

These files have a .pkg extension, an extension that has also been used for installable packages on a number of other operating systems including SunOS, Unix System V, Symbian, BeOS, and the Apple Newton.

OS X packages are a form of the xar archive format.

A Meta-Package File is another form of OS X package which may contain multiple packages of the single-package format.

Links

 * Wikipedia: .pkg
 * Wikipedia: Installer (OS X)
 * TargetConfig command line tool man page
 * Installer man page
 * Software Delivery Legacy Guide