PKG file extension

PKG extension (full name Mac OS Installer Package) is mainly used on Apple's Mac OS platform; this file format is rarely used in the Windows environment. A PKG file is an archive executable file similar to Zip or Rar archives in Windows OS. There is a high demand for the files with PKG extension on hardware and software elements by Macintosh, as well as on mobile devices such as iPhone and iPad.

The availability of PKG in OS X and iOS is a mandatory condition for maintaining the system's continuous operation, because this executive file helps to install software on a hard disk or memory card.

The PKG archive itself can include a wide variety of components. User applications, game programs, text editors, and databases – this is only a small list of software that can be included in a PKG archive.

Opening, creating, and editing PKG files

As already mentioned, the main platform on which PKG works is Mac OS. The most common program to open a PKG file is Apple Installer. At the same time, Mac OS developers had the foresight to ensure the availability of a built-in installer, therefore Apple Installer does not require an additional installation, but may require an update.

If you to need to open a PKG file in Windows, use the app AnyToISO or the built-in WinRAR unzip tool.

For iPhone and iPad users, a PKG is an installation package that recognizes the mobile device system with the help of the built-in archiver.

Other most common utilities that are used to read PKG files include:

• WinRAR (Windows OS);
• CharlesSoft Pacifist (Mac OS);
• P-CAD (Windows OS);
• Alien (Linux OS).

This software has gained wide popularity among users of various operating systems due to a wide range of tools for working with archive files, high degree of compression, and reliable operation.

Converting PKG into other formats

PKG is not exactly a universal archive format, however, the degree of its conversion is wide enough:

1. PKG -> PDF;
2. PKG -> DEB;
3. PKG -> RPM;
4. PKG -> SLP;
5. PKG -> TGZ;

It is recommended to convert item 1 using P-CAD; operations 2-5 require Alien.

Why PKG and what are its advantages

Perhaps, the main advantage of PKG extension is its versatility. Hardly any format supports its operation in three operating systems at once: Linux, Windows, and Mac. Of course, the correct operation of each operating system requires its own unzip tool, but it is more likely to be attributed to systems’ software and functional features, rather than to the disadvantages of PKG format.