IMS Content Package

An IMS Content Package is a self-contained unit of digital content. It may be an entire course, a collection of courses or part of a course that can potentially stand on its own. A package may contain other, smaller packages and may in turn be part of a larger package.

An IMS Content Package
contains two major components:

  • A Manifest file with the name imsmanifest.xml. This XML document describes the content and organization and enumerates the resources contained in the package.

  • The physical files referenced in the Manifest — the actual content.

To facilitate archiving and transport between systems, all the individual components may optionally be placed in a single Package Interchange File, "Zip" file conformant to PKZip version 2.04g.


The manifest contains Meta-data, an Organizations section, a list of Resources, and references to Sub-manifests if any exist.

Meta-data in an IMS manifest describes the Package, Organizations and Resources. The Organizations section outlines a structure or any number of alternative structures for the content. The Resources section provides a list of all the resources contained within the package. Each resource asset in turn lists its dependencies — other files, such as graphics, that may not be specifically listed as a resource but are nonetheless required for the content to run. The Resources section may also contain pointers to any external resources required for the package to be complete.