How React Native Builds Actually Work (APK, AAB, IPA, APP)

Most React Native devs ship builds without knowing what an APK, AAB, IPA, or APP file actually is. That gap bites you the moment a build fails or a store rejects your upload. I generate all four artifacts locally in the video, with the real Gradle and Xcode commands, so the build process stops being a black box.

You'll also see why a 195 MB IPA can install as roughly 40 MB on an iPhone.

What's inside

• APK vs AAB: the installable file vs the Play Store publishing format
• APP bundles for simulators vs signed IPAs for distribution
• Why archive sizes are much bigger than what users install
• ./gradlew assembleRelease and bundleRelease for Android builds
• xcodebuild commands for local iOS builds, and why you need a Mac
• npx expo prebuild to generate the native projects from an Expo app

Resources

CourseReact Native course

The Publishing section takes it from build to live: 75 minutes on App Store and Play Store submission.