What is the difference between an IPA file and an .xcarchive?
Which one do I have to create to upload an app using Xcode's Application Loader?
Difference between ipa and xcarchive?
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First comes .xcarchive, which can be used to create an .ipa and sent to App Store Connect.
TLDR: .xcarchive is intermediary step for you, and an .ipa can be used for uploads to the App Store.
.xcarchive:
xcis a hint that its for Xcode, not users. (e.g. other files for Xcode:.xcodeproj,.xcworkspace)
.ipa: iOS Packaged App
After generating your .xcarchive and you can find it in Windows > Organizer > Archives, you can click Distribute app > App Store Connect > Export , which creates this, which you would upload to App Store Connect:
To investigate whats in the .ipa, you can rename the .ipa file into a .zip and extract it. You'll find the following directory structure:
Difference between IPA and .xcarchive:
IPA is a zipped up Payload folder which has YourApp.app bundle. .app contains all your application resources like images, plist files, compressed nibs and the executable, CodeSigning resources,etc.
xcarchive contains your app and dsym files. .DSYM is required to desymbolicate your crash logs. Right click on saved .xcarchive and select show package contents to see what it contains.