Application Package

iOS apps are distributed in IPA (iOS App Store Package) archives. The IPA file is a ZIP-compressed archive that contains all the code and resources required to execute the app.

At a high level, the IPA file has the following structure:

Name	Type	Description
Payload	Directory	This directory contains all the application data.
Payload/MyApp.app	Directory	Bundle directory.
Payload/MyApp.app/MyApp	File	This file contains the application's executable code
Payload/MyApp.app/embedded.mobileprovision	File	This plist file contains the provisioning profile for an application.
Payload/MyApp.app/Info.plist	File	This file is the manifest of the iOS application.
iTunesArtwork	File	PNG image used as the application's icon
iTunesMetadata.plist	File	This file contains various bits of information, including the developer's name and ID, the bundle identifier, copyright information, genre, the name of the app, release date, purchase date, etc.
WatchKitSupport/WK	Directory	This specific bundle contains the extension delegate and the controllers for managing the interfaces and responding to user interactions on an Apple Watch.
META-INF	Directory	This directory contains metadata about what program was used to create the IPA.

References

• Bundle Programming Guide: Bundle Structures

• iOS Testing Guide: Platform Overview