XML : Android icons in xml

I used predefined activity drawer, and it gave me incon in such format as this: <vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:width="24dp" android:height="24dp" android:viewportHeight="24.0" android:viewportWidth="24.0"> <path android:fillColor="#FF000000" android:pathData="M4,6H2v14c0,1.1 0.9,2 2,2h14v-2H4V6zm16,-4H8c-1.1,0 -2,0.9 -2,2v12c0,1.1 0.9,2 2,2h12c1.1,0 2,-0.9 2,-2V4c0,-1.1 -0.9,-2 -2,-2zm-8,12.5v-9l6,4.5 -6,4.5z" /> </vector> Earlier i used icons in png in several options (for lowdp,hdpi etc). What is the advantage of using this style of icons? How to create icons in this way? Best regards Dominik