Windows Installer File

For managing built-in (like Hyper-V or WSL) rather than application features, administrators typically use tools like DISM or PowerShell cmdlets like Install-WindowsFeature . Windows Installer Features - Win32 apps - Microsoft Learn

In the context of the , a feature is a specific part of an application's total functionality that a user can recognize and choose to install independently. For example, in a productivity suite, a feature might be a spell-checker, a thesaurus, or a collection of clip art. Key Characteristics of Windows Installer Features

: While users see features, the installer actually manages components . One feature can consist of multiple components, which are the smallest coherent units (files, registry keys, etc.) that the installer installs or removes together. Windows Installer

: Installing certain features only if specific launch conditions (like a specific OS version) are met.

: Developers can author packages that allow features to be "advertised" but not fully installed until the user attempts to use them for the first time. Common Use Cases for Developers For managing built-in (like Hyper-V or WSL) rather

: Letting users skip unnecessary tools to save disk space.

When authoring an installation package , developers define features in the Feature Table of the MSI database. This allows for: Key Characteristics of Windows Installer Features : While

: Reinstalling or repairing specific features rather than the entire application if files become corrupt.