title: Android adb sideload command
body: <p>I am reading a tutorial on the sideload command at <a href="http://android-revolution-hd.blogspot.com/2013/12/ow-to-use-adb-sideload.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link</a>.</p>
  
  <p>It contains the steps of rebooting into recovery mode and using adb sideload [file].zip.</p>
  
  <p>My question is that what does sideload actually do with that zip file ? In the past I have compiled AOSP and flashed a device using</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>adb reboot-bootloader</li>
  <li>adb fastboot flashall -w</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Is sideload trying to achieve something similar to the above ?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Edit:</strong></p>
  
  <p>I think my confusion relating to sideload stems from my lack of understanding of how Android's memory is structured. I found two links.</p>
  
  <p>First is a link that explains Android partitions : <a href="http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/android-partitions-explained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">partitions</a></p>
  
  <p>Second is a SO answer, that explains Android's memory: <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4634774/android-memory-types-ram-v-internal-memory/4634858#4634858">memory</a></p>
  
  <p>Now my understanding so far is this :</p>
  
  <p>Android has RAM and ROM. ROM is divided into several partitions, namely, /system, /data, /boot, /recovery, /cache, /misc and /sdcard.</p>
  
  <p>Now the link relating to sideload states that this command installs a zip file.</p>
  
  <p>What I don't understand still is that, is this zip file, going to replace the entire ROM in Android ? Namely, will it have to have the right partitions as in the list above ?</p>
  
  <p>This also makes me confused about a similar command 'fastboot flashall'. I know when I run it, the terminal goes by saying its writing to several of the partitions. So my questions boil down to these :</p>
  
  <p>1) Is sideload replacing entire ROM ?</p>
  
  <p>2) Is the related command 'fastboot flashall' also replacing entire ROM ?</p>
  
  <p>3) Are there ways to replace select partitions ?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks.</p>