RPM (originally Red Hat Package Manager, now a recursive acronym) is a package management system. RPM files are used to distribute software on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. An RPM file is essentially an archive containing the files of a software package, along with metadata about the package, such as its name, version, dependencies, and installation instructions. This metadata allows the RPM package manager to install, uninstall, and update software packages in a consistent and reliable manner. RPM packages simplify software distribution and management by providing a standardized format for software packages and a set of tools for managing them. They handle dependency resolution, ensuring that all required libraries and other software components are installed before a package is installed. This prevents conflicts and ensures that the software functions correctly. RPM is widely used in enterprise environments and is the foundation for many Linux distributions' package management systems.