Packages used by the ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Java

To prepare data that your deployed application can use locally (data that resides on the same machine/device as your deployed application), you use packages. You can use packages created and shared by others, or, you can create your own.

Packages are an easy way to distribute data for use by ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Java applications you deploy. If the application you built takes advantages of the local service capabilities of the ArcGIS Runtime API, you must provision the machines/devices to which your application is deployed. You use packages for this provisioning. Because a package is a single file on disk, it is easy to distribute along with your application.

When you package data, a report is provided that tells you which runtime components the package requires. Use this information during your application deployment, when you need to select runtime components in the Deployment Builder.

A package file, like any single file on disk, can be shared through email as a file attachment or by copying and pasting it to other locations on your internal network. It also can be shared with a much wider audience using your ArcGIS Online account. Once you have uploaded a package to your online account, you can provide the package to your private groups or with everyone. Below are the package types supported by ArcGIS Runtime.

Package name	File extension	Description
Map package	MPK	Map packages (.mpk) make it easy to share complete map documents with others. A map package contains a map document (.mxd) and the data referenced by the layers it contains, packaged into one convenient, portable file. Map packages can be used for easy sharing of maps between colleagues in a work group, across departments in an organization, or with any other ArcGIS users via ArcGIS Online. Map packages have other uses, too, such as the ability to create an archive of a particular map that contains a snapshot of the current state of the data used in the map.
Tile package	TPK	Tile packages (.tpk) contain complete cached map documents in the form of a map and a tile cache of the data. Tile packages can be used for easy sharing of cached maps between colleagues in a work group, accross departments in an organization, or with any other arcGIS user via ArcGIS online. Tile packages are ideal in disconnected environments where you still need access to the data.
Geoprocessing package	GPK	A geoprocessing package (.gpk) is a convenient way to share analysis and geoprocessing workflows as a single compressed file created from the result of a successfully run geoprocessing tool.
Locator package	GCPK	Locator packages (.gcpk) make it easy to share locators with others. A locator package may contain one locator or a composite locator along with its participating locators packaged into one convenient, portable file. The file size of the locator package is smaller than the locator as it is compressed and thus makes file transfer easier. Locator packages can be used for easy sharing of locators between colleagues in a work group, across departments in an organization, or with any other ArcGIS users via ArcGIS online. Locator packages can also be used to create an archive of the locators.