The term refers to a dynamically generated resource overlay package specifically tailored for Android products. These packages contain resources designed to customize the appearance and behavior of applications and the system itself. A primary function is to enable product-specific branding and feature variations without modifying the original application code. As an example, a device manufacturer might use this mechanism to alter the default color scheme of the Android settings application to align with their brand identity.
The creation of these overlay packages offers several benefits. It permits efficient customization for diverse product configurations derived from a single Android codebase. This reduces the complexity of managing multiple, divergent code branches. Furthermore, this approach facilitates easier updates and maintenance, as core application components remain untouched, separating them from product-specific modifications. Historically, this capability evolved from the need for device manufacturers to differentiate their products within the increasingly competitive Android ecosystem.
