apt

Essential apt commands for managing packages on Debian-based Linux distributions like Ubuntu.

cli
aptlinuxdebianubuntupackage-manager

Getting Started

# Check apt version
apt --version

# Get help
apt help
apt --help

# View manual page
man apt

Updating Package Lists

# Update package lists from repositories
sudo apt update

# Update and show upgradable packages
sudo apt update && apt list --upgradable

Installing Packages

# Install a package
sudo apt install <package>

# Install multiple packages
sudo apt install <package1> <package2> <package3>

# Install a specific version
sudo apt install <package>=<version>
sudo apt install nginx=1.18.0-0ubuntu1

# Install without confirmation prompt
sudo apt install -y <package>

# Download package without installing
sudo apt download <package>

# Reinstall a package
sudo apt reinstall <package>

Removing Packages

# Remove a package (keep configuration files)
sudo apt remove <package>

# Remove package and configuration files
sudo apt purge <package>

# Remove unused dependencies
sudo apt autoremove

# Remove unused dependencies and config files
sudo apt autoremove --purge

Upgrading Packages

# Upgrade all installed packages
sudo apt upgrade

# Upgrade with automatic handling of dependencies
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt dist-upgrade

# Upgrade a specific package
sudo apt install --only-upgrade <package>

Searching Packages

# Search for a package
apt search <keyword>

# Search with more details
apt search --full <keyword>

# Search package names only
apt search --names-only <keyword>

# Show package details
apt show <package>

# Show all available versions
apt list -a <package>

Listing Packages

# List all installed packages
apt list --installed

# List upgradable packages
apt list --upgradable

# List all available packages
apt list --all-versions

Package Information

# Show package details
apt show <package>

# Show package dependencies
apt depends <package>

# Show reverse dependencies
apt rdepends <package>

# Show package policy (versions and priorities)
apt policy <package>

Managing Repositories

# Edit sources list with default editor
sudo apt edit-sources

# Update package lists
sudo apt update

Cleaning Up

# Remove downloaded package files
sudo apt clean

# Remove old downloaded package files
sudo apt autoclean

# Remove unused packages
sudo apt autoremove

Fixing Broken Packages

# Fix broken dependencies
sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt -f install

# Check for broken packages
sudo apt check

Advanced Operations

# Simulate installation (dry run)
apt install --simulate <package>
apt install -s <package>

# Download package without installing
sudo apt download <package>

# Build dependencies for source package
sudo apt build-dep <package>

# Force package installation
sudo apt install --allow-downgrades <package>

Best Practices

# Update before installing
sudo apt update && sudo apt install <package>

# Upgrade system safely
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Clean up after installing
sudo apt install <package> && sudo apt autoremove

# Check for broken packages
sudo apt check

Common Workflows

# Full system update
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt autoremove -y

# Search and install
apt search <keyword>
sudo apt install <package>

# Remove package completely
sudo apt purge <package> && sudo apt autoremove

# Fix broken installation
sudo apt --fix-broken install