The apt command¶

apt (Advantage package system) command is used for interacting with dpkg (packaging system used by debian). There is already the dpkg command to manage .deb packages. But apt is a more user-friendly and efficient way.

In simple terms apt is a command used for installing, deleting and performing other operations on debian based Linux.

You will be using the apt command mostly with sudo privileges.

Installing packages:¶

install followed by package_name is used with apt to install a new package.

Syntax:¶

sudo apt install package_name

Example:¶

sudo apt install g++ This command will install g++ on your system.

Removing packages:¶

remove followed by package_name is used with apt to remove a specific package.

Syntax:¶

sudo apt remove package_name

Example:¶

sudo apt remove g++ This command will remove g++ from your system.

Searching for a package:¶

search followed by the package_name used with apt to search a package across all repositories.

Syntax:¶

apt search package_name note: sudo not required

Example:¶

apt search g++

Removing unused packages:¶

Whenever a new package that depends on other packages is installed on the system, the package dependencies will be installed too. When the package is removed, the dependencies will stay on the system. This leftover packages are no longer used by anything else and can be removed.

Syntax:¶

sudo apt autoremove This command will remove all unused from your system.

Updating package index:¶

apt package index is nothing but a database that stores records of available packages that are enabled on your system.

Syntax:¶

sudo apt update This command will update the package index on your system.

Upgrading packages:¶

If you want to install the latest updates for your installed packages you may want to run this command.

Syntax:¶

sudo apt upgrade The command doesn't upgrade any packages that require removal of installed packages.

If you want to upgrade a single package, pass the package name:

Syntax:¶

sudo apt upgrade package_name This command will upgrade your packages to the latest version.