A content package is the distributable file — in practice a ZIP archive — that bundles all components of a course for delivery to an LMS or other runtime host. For SCORM, the package contains imsmanifest.xml at the root plus all HTML, CSS, JavaScript, media files, and video assets referenced by the manifest. For cmi5, the root file is cmi5.xml and the same principle applies. The LMS imports the ZIP, reads the manifest, registers the course structure in its database, and thereafter launches individual SCOs or assignable units directly from the extracted files. The content-package model has a significant practical implication for video: embedding large video files directly inside the ZIP creates packages that can be gigabytes in size, straining LMS upload limits and storage. The common mitigation is to reference video via external URLs inside the manifest or the SCO HTML, so the package itself stays small and video delivery is handled by a CDN or video platform. This hybrid approach — SCORM or cmi5 shell for tracking, external video for delivery — is the standard pattern for video-heavy e-learning products. Content packages must be re-exported and re-imported into every LMS whenever course content changes, which is why some teams prefer an LTI integration for content that updates frequently.
