Editing Package manager (section)

===Package formats===
{{Main article|Package format|File archive}}
Each package manager relies on the format and metadata of the packages it can manage. That is, package managers need groups of files to be bundled for the specific package manager along with appropriate metadata, such as dependencies. Often, a core set of utilities manages the basic installation from these packages and multiple package managers use these utilities to provide additional functionality.

For example, [[Yellowdog Updater, Modified|yum]] relies on [[RPM Package Manager|rpm]] as a [[Backend (computing)|backend]]. Yum extends the functionality of the backend by adding features such as simple configuration for maintaining a network of systems. As another example, the [[Synaptic Package Manager]] provides a graphical user interface by using the [[Advanced Packaging Tool|Advanced Packaging Tool (apt)]] library, which, in turn, relies on [[dpkg]] for core functionality.

[[Alien (file converter)|Alien]] is a program that converts between different [[Linux package formats]], supporting conversion between [[Linux Standard Base]] (LSB) compliant [[RPM Package Manager|.rpm]] packages, [[deb (file format)|.deb]], Stampede (.slp), [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] (.pkg) and [[Slackware]] ([[.tgz]], [[.txz]], .tbz, .tlz) packages.

In mobile operating systems, [[Google Play]] consumes [[Android application package]] (APK) package format while [[Microsoft Store]] uses [[APPX]] and [[XAP (file format)|XAP]] formats. (Both Google Play and Microsoft Store have eponymous package managers.)