What is the purpose of an MSI file?

An MSI file serves a specific purpose in the Windows operating system, which is primarily to manage the installation and uninstallation of software applications. These files are structured in a way that Windows Installer can understand, facilitating the installation process by providing all the necessary information such as files to be installed, registry entries to be added, and any dependencies required for the application to function properly.

When a user executes an MSI file, it orchestrates the installation process according to the rules set forth in the file. This includes creating a proper directory structure, placing files in the correct locations, registering components, and potentially setting up configuration options for the software. Additionally, MSI files also allow for the uninstallation of applications, ensuring that all components and settings created during installation can be completely removed when no longer needed.

This structured approach to software installation helps maintain system integrity and simplifies the user experience, as the process is handled by the Windows Installer service, which manages much of the complexity behind the scenes.