package files

[PotsNPans]

In Linux, what does the term "package file" refer to? What kinds of information would you keep in a package file?

[suwunk]

In package management systems, which are commonly used with Linux-based operating systems, a package is a specific piece of software which the system can install and uninstall.
Linux package formats - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_package_formats)