DEX File Documentation

Overview

Feature Value
Primary Use Compiled Android application code
Based on Java bytecode format
File Extension .dex
Developed by Google
MIME Type application/vnd.android.dex
Architecture Register-based
Designed for Dalvik Virtual Machine (DVM) / Android Runtime (ART)
Header Contains magic number, checksums, and version information
String Table Stores all constant strings, including type descriptors and field names
Class Definition Information about each class, including access flags, superclass, and interface references
Data Section Contains all the bytecode of the application
Method Area Stores code for methods and constructors
Instruction Format Compact, 8-bit instruction set optimized for low memory footprint
Directly Executable by the Android System Yes
Indexing Uses index-based references for method, field, and type identifiers
Optimization Can be optimized/converted to native code at install time or runtime
File Compatibility Android applications (.apk) include DEX files
Security Features Bytecode verification, runtime monitoring, and sandboxing
Advantages Optimized for low memory and processor usage
Disadvantages Platform-specific, not directly executable on non-Android systems
Tools for Manipulation Dx, Apktool, DEX2JAR