A Joomla manifest is an XML description used by the extension installer. It identifies the extension type, installed files and other installation details.
What a manifest describes
Depending on extension type, a Joomla manifest may declare a name, version, author, language files, options, SQL operations, installer script and update servers. Templates commonly use templateDetails.xml, while other types follow their own naming rules.
Structure and validation
File locations and permitted elements depend on the extension type and Joomla version. A package may include separate archives with their own manifests. Valid XML alone does not prove PHP compatibility or successful installation, which require testing in an appropriate environment.
When the manifest cannot be found
Check that the selected file is an installation archive rather than documentation or a source-code bundle. An outer download may need extracting before selecting its installer ZIP. Do not unpack a standard package without the developer’s instructions. The retained examples below show Joomla 3 and 4 messages.
A Joomla manifest describes extension delivery and configuration. Keep it consistent with the actual files and verify both installation and updates.