Why are JetpackCompose dependencies now appendending libs.X in build.gradle.kts?

Question

I'm new to Android development, i'm also paranoid by nature and I've noticed my dependencies have changed recently when building a new jetpack compose (empty activity) project. I tried looking up the Google Android documentation and cannot find any mention of this.

Can someone explain to me why the dependency package has implementation(libs.androidx...) appended onto it?

My android studio version has also upgraded to Android Studio Iguana | 2023.2.1

Assuming it's not malicious, I'm guessing it's a change in declaring dependencies? Where do I change or check the versions then? How do I keep specific versions now? Some clarity on what I'm looking at would be greatly appreciated.

here are the newest dependencies build.gradle.kts file

dependencies {

    implementation(libs.androidx.core.ktx)
    implementation(libs.androidx.lifecycle.runtime.ktx)
    implementation(libs.androidx.activity.compose)
    implementation(platform(libs.androidx.compose.bom))
    implementation(libs.androidx.ui)
    implementation(libs.androidx.ui.graphics)
    implementation(libs.androidx.ui.tooling.preview)
    implementation(libs.androidx.material3)
    testImplementation(libs.junit)
    androidTestImplementation(libs.androidx.junit)
    androidTestImplementation(libs.androidx.espresso.core)
    androidTestImplementation(platform(libs.androidx.compose.bom))
    androidTestImplementation(libs.androidx.ui.test.junit4)
    debugImplementation(libs.androidx.ui.tooling)
    debugImplementation(libs.androidx.ui.test.manifest)
}

to give some context, this is the previous build.gradle.kts files from about 1 month ago.

dependencies {

    implementation("androidx.core:core-ktx:1.12.0")
    implementation("androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-runtime-ktx:2.6.2")
    implementation("androidx.activity:activity-compose:1.7.0")
    implementation(platform("androidx.compose:compose-bom:2023.08.00"))
    implementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui")
    implementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-graphics")
    implementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-tooling-preview")
    implementation("androidx.compose.material3:material3")
    testImplementation("junit:junit:4.13.2")
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.test.ext:junit:1.1.5")
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.5.1")
    androidTestImplementation(platform("androidx.compose:compose-bom:2023.08.00"))
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    debugImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-tooling")
    debugImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
}

Answer 1

Found my answer. It was in this guide: Migrate your build to version catalogs

I'm guessing the Android studio update just auto generates a version catalog now.