A GBA file is a ROM (Read-Only Memory) image of a Game Boy Advance game. It contains a complete copy of the game's data, including the game's code, graphics, audio, and other assets. These files are typically created by extracting the data from a physical Game Boy Advance game cartridge. GBA ROMs are primarily used for playing Game Boy Advance games on emulators, which are software programs that simulate the hardware of the Game Boy Advance console on a computer or mobile device. While emulators themselves are legal, distributing or downloading ROMs of games you do not own is generally considered copyright infringement. GBA ROMs are often distributed as compressed files (e.g., ZIP or 7z) to reduce their file size. They can range in size from a few megabytes to several megabytes, depending on the complexity and content of the game. The GBA format was popular due to the console's success and the ease of creating and distributing ROMs.