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You downloaded software for your Mac and it came as a .pkg file. Unlike DMGs (which are just disk images containing an app you drag to Applications), PKG files are actual installers — they can write files to system directories, install kernel extensions, run pre- and post-install scripts, and modify system configuration.
PKG files use Apple's Installer framework and can contain multiple packages (a "distribution" package). They're used for software that needs to install components outside the Applications folder — system extensions, drivers, command-line tools, launch daemons, and preference panes. macOS Gatekeeper checks PKG signatures and will warn you about unsigned or unnotarised packages.
macOS runs PKG files natively through Installer.app (double-click to start). Suspicious Package (free, macOS) lets you inspect the contents of a PKG without installing — see every file it will write and every script it will run. Use it for packages from unfamiliar sources. Terminal alternative: `pkgutil --expand package.pkg /tmp/expanded` to extract and inspect.