Final answer:
The AndroidManifest.xml file is an XML file that specifies the first activity to launch when an Android app starts, containing important metadata including activities and permissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The AndroidManifest.xml file is an XML file that specifies the first activity to launch when the app is started. This file is critical in Android app development as it declares the app's package name, components (activities, services, broadcast receivers, and content providers), required permissions, and other essential metadata that the Android system needs to launch the app correctly.
To define an activity as the starting point of an app, the <activity> element in the AndroidManifest.xml file must include an <intent-filter> with the action ACTION_MAIN and the category CATEGORY_LAUNCHER. Here's an example of how the entry might look:
<activity android:name=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>