- What is APT Command in Linux?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Use APT Command in Linux<\/a>
- Fetch Updates<\/a><\/li>
- List Available Updates<\/a><\/li>
- Upgrade Packages<\/a><\/li>
- Full System Upgrade<\/a><\/li>
- Installing New Packages<\/a><\/li>
- Simulating Installation<\/a><\/li>
- Removing Packages<\/a><\/li>
- Remove Unused Dependencies<\/a><\/li>
- Searching Packages<\/a><\/li>
- Searching Through Installed Packages<\/a><\/li>
- Get Details About Package<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What is APT Command in Linux?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
APT (Advanced Package Tool)<\/strong> is a command-line tool that is used for easy interaction with the
dpkg<\/code> packaging system in Debian<\/a> and Debian-based Linux distributions like Ubuntu<\/a>. It is a collection of tools distributed in a package namedapt<\/code>, aiming to simplify the process of managing software.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt the same time,
dpkg<\/code>, the Debian packages manager, is responsible for packing the software in an easy-to-install package. So, whenapt<\/code> is used, it invokes thedpkg<\/code> program to install or remove applications while including additional functions as a dependencies resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn other words,
apt<\/code> acts as a user-friendly layer that interacts with thedpkg<\/code> packaging system. It is a powerful package management tool that can be used to search, install, update, upgrade, and manage packages in Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, or any other Debian or Ubuntu-based distributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition, it automatically manages package dependencies, installing required software as needed and removing it when no longer required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Use APT Command in Linux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Remember that most of the
apt<\/code> commands must be run by a user withsudo<\/code> privileges.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFetch Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before any operations with
apt<\/code>, we must ensure that our local copy of the package database is up-to-date. Without this, the system won’t know whether newer packages are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe
apt update<\/code> command downloads up-to-date information about available software packages:<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt update<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Fetch](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-update.png\")
<\/a>Fetch updates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This downloads the latest up-to-date software packages and their metadata – package names, version numbers, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
List Available Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can view the list of packages that have a newer version ready to be upgraded. For this, run the following
apt<\/code> command:<\/p>\n\n\napt list<\/span> --upgradeable<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"List](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-list-upgradable-1024x314.png\")
<\/a>List available updates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n apt list --upgradeable<\/code> is a hint always displayed at the end of the output of theapt update<\/code> command.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUpgrade Packages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Running an
apt upgrade<\/code> will update all the packages that have a new version available. Remember that you need to perform anapt update<\/code> before theapt upgrade<\/code> command so thatapt<\/code> knows that new versions of packages are available.<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt upgrade<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Upgrade](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-upgrade-1024x410.png\")
<\/a>Upgrade packages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Full System Upgrade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The common difference between an
apt upgrade<\/code> and anapt full-upgrade<\/code> is that afull-upgrade<\/code> will remove the installed packages if needed to upgrade the whole system.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, this is useful when upgrading from Debian version 10 to 11<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n
sudo apt full-upgrade<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Full](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-full-upgrade-1024x411.png\")
<\/a>Full system upgrades with APT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Commands with
full-upgrade<\/code> require special care to be used safely, and there’s no good reason even for experienced users to run them routinely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstalling New Packages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Installing a new package is one of the most common uses of the
apt<\/code> command. So, once your packages database is updated, you can install any packages with theapt install<\/code>. For example, let’s install Nginx<\/a> Web Server<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt install nginx<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Installing](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-install-1024x454.png\")
<\/a>Installing new packages with the APT command.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n If you want to install multiple packages at once, for example,
nginx<\/code> andfirewalld<\/code>, specify them as a space-separated list:<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt install nginx firewalld<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Installing](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-install-multiple-packages.png\")
<\/a>Installing multiple packages with the APT command.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Simulating Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are situations when you want to know in advance which packages the
apt<\/code> command will install on your system. In these cases, the “-s<\/code>” option comes in handy because it allows you to simulate an actual installation by showing the full list of actions thatapt<\/code> will execute without actually performing any of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, simulating the installation of the “lighttpd<\/em>” package looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n
sudo apt install lighttpd -s<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Simulate](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-command-simulate-installation-1024x625.png\")
<\/a>Simulate a package installation with APT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Removing Packages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To remove (uninstall) an installed package, use the
apt remove<\/code> command. For example, to remove a “nginx<\/em>” package, enter the followingapt<\/code> command:<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt remove nginx<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Remove](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-remove.png\")
<\/a>Remove packages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n You can also specify multiple packages, separated by spaces:<\/p>\n\n\n
sudo apt remove nginx firewalld<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Remove](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-remove2.png\")
<\/a>Remove multiple packages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n We can also easily remove packages with the
apt purge<\/code> command. The primary difference is that theapt remove<\/code> command will uninstall the given packages, leaving its configuration files behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhereas
apt purge<\/code> not only removes the package but also removes all configuration files outside the home directory.<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt purge nginx<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Remove](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-purge-1024x423.png\")
<\/a>Remove packages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remove Unused Dependencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When a package is installed, the APT package manager automatically installs any additional packages required to function correctly. These additional packages are known as dependencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, as software is updated and removed, dependencies can accumulate on the system, which is no longer needed by any installed packages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The
apt autoremove<\/code> command will remove any packages automatically installed as dependencies for other packages that are no longer needed. This way, you free up disk space and reduce clutter in the system.<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt autoremove<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Autoremove](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-autoremove-1024x294.png\")
<\/a>Autoremove unused packages with the APT command.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Additionally, to remove packages alongside their associated configuration files, add the “
--purge<\/code>” option to the command.<\/p>\n\n\nsudo apt autoremove --purge<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\nSearching Packages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The
apt search<\/code> command allows you to search for a given package in the list of available packages. For example, to search fornginx<\/code> packages, enter:<\/p>\n\n\napt search nginx<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Search](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-search-1024x640.png\")
<\/a>Search for a package with APT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Searching Through Installed Packages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The
apt list<\/code> command displays both installed and packages available to install. What if you want to list specific currently installed packages only? Just pass the “--installed<\/code>” option to theapt list<\/code> command. The good news is you can use a wildcard (*<\/code>) in searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, to find all the packages currently installed on the system which contain the
nginx<\/code> within their name, run:<\/p>\n\n\napt list<\/span> --installed nginx*<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Searching](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-list-installed-1024x271.png\")
<\/a>Searching through installed packages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Get Details About Package<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The output of the
apt search<\/code> command gives you a brief introduction to the packages. If you want more details, use theapt show<\/code> command.<\/p>\n\n\napt show nginx<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n![\"Show](\"https:\/\/linuxiac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/apt-show-1024x606.png\")
<\/a>Show details about a package.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n It’s important to note that you must give the exact package name to the
apt show<\/code> command. Otherwise, theapt show<\/code> won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we have explored some of the most commonly used APT commands and provided examples of how to use them effectively. By mastering APT, users can streamline their package management workflow and keep their system up-to-date and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its simple and easy-to-use syntax allows users to quickly install, update, remove, and manage software packages and their dependencies. Of course, there is more to APT, but this should get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, we would like to add that besides the direct interaction with APT, users can also use Nala \u2013 a prettier frontend for the APT command<\/a> that offers some enhanced features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- List Available Updates<\/a><\/li>
- How to Use APT Command in Linux<\/a>