Difference between Product id and Package id

Question

I'm a newbie in using Wix. So, as the title says. What's the difference between Product id and Package id? Or are they one and the same? Thanks

Answer 1

To tell it short, Product Code identifies your application, while Package Code is the identification of the Windows Installer package itself.

You should read and understand the following two articles:

• Product Codes
• Package Codes

Here is the excerpt:

The product and package codes are not interchangeable. No two nonidentical .msi files should ever have the same package code. Although it is common to ship an application that has the same package code and product code, the two values can diverge as the application is updated.

And some more:

Although it is common to ship an application that has the same package code and product code, the two values can diverge as the application is updated. For example, including a new file with the application would require updating the installation database to install the file. If the changes are minor a developer may choose not to change the product code, however, a different .msi file is needed to install the new file and so the package code must be incremented. Conversely, a single package can be used to install more than one product. For example, the installation of a package without a language transform could install the English version of the application and the installation of the same package with a language transform could install the French version. The transform is distinct from the .msi file that determines the package code. The English and French versions could have different product codes and the same package code because they are both installed with the same .msi file.