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Snap packages are Canonical's solution to Linux's packaging fragmentation. A .snap file bundles an application with all its dependencies in a compressed, read-only squashfs image. Install it on any Linux distribution — Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch — and it works, regardless of what system libraries are installed. No dependency conflicts, no version mismatches.
The tradeoff: snap packages are larger than native packages (they bundle everything), start slower (decompressing from squashfs), and run in a sandboxed environment that sometimes conflicts with system integration (themes, file access). These complaints are valid and loudly expressed by the Linux community, particularly the Snap Store's proprietary backend.
Ubuntu ships with snap support by default and distributes some core applications (Firefox, Chromium) as snaps. Install snaps via `sudo snap install appname`. The Snap Store provides a centralised repository. For developers, `snapcraft` packages applications for distribution. The format competes with Flatpak and AppImage for the "universal Linux package" crown.