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Dpkg

lastmod 2025-12-08created 2015-12-1632 edits

dpkg is the software at the base of the Debian package management system. The dpkg command is used to install, remove, and provide information about .deb packages.

dpkg itself is a low-level tool; higher-level tools such as APT handle complex package relationships and fetching packages from remote locations. Aptitude, Synaptic, and others are used more than dpkg itself, because they have more ways of dealing with package dependencies and a more user-friendly interface.

Along with the dpkg program, the Debian package "dpkg" installs several other programs that make the packaging system work, such as dpkg-statoverride, dpkg-divert, dpkg-trigger and update-alternatives. dpkg installs programs such as start-stop-daemon and install-info, and install-info is generally kept for backward compatibility. (It is now developed and distributed separately.) The Debian package "dpkg-dev" contains the various tools described below.

Categories

dpkg list status

The first column of the dpkg -list corresponds to the status of a package. How to interpret this status.

Status of every package is represented by three characters xxx

First character: The possible value for the first character. The first character signifies the desired state, like we (or some user) is marking the package for installation

  • u: Unknown (an unknown state)
  • i: Install (marked for installation)
  • r: Remove (marked for removal)
  • p: Purge (marked for purging)
  • h: Hold

Second Character: The second character signifies the current state, whether it is installed or not. The possible values are

  • n: Not- The package is not installed
  • i: Inst – The package is successfully installed
  • c: Cfg-files – Configuration files are present
  • u: Unpacked- The package is stilled unpacked
  • f: Failed-cfg- Failed to remove configuration files
  • h: Half-inst- The package is only partially installed
  • W: trig-aWait
  • t: Trig-pend

Third Character: This corresponds to the error state. The possible value include

  • R: Reinst-required The package must be installed.

How to create package

See debconf.

Example

Examples of using dpkg are summarized below.

  • dpkg -i [.deb파일]: installs the given file.
  • dpkg -r [패키지명]: removes the package from the system. (However, files are left behind on removal.)
  • dpkg -P [패키지명]: removes both the package and its configuration files.
  • dpkg -x [.deb파일] [디랙토리]: extracts the files contained in the file into the specified directory. Note that this command initializes that directory.
  • dpkg -l: List packages concisely.
  • dpkg -l [패키지명]: package details. Prints the name, version, dependencies, and so on.
dpkg --get-selections
Prints the package list.
For the output states, see #Package selection states.
dpkg --get-selections | grep -P '(?<!de)install$'
Prints the list of all installed packages. However, the package architecture is included. (e.g. mesa-va-drivers:amd64)
For the output states, see #Package selection states.
dpkg --get-selections | grep -P '(?<!de)install$' | cut -f1 | awk -F: '{print $1}' | sort | uniq
Prints the list of all installed packages. Only package names are printed, without the architecture.
dpkg --clear-selections
Set the requested state of every non-essential package to deinstall (since dpkg 1.13.18).
This is intended to be used immediately before --set-selections, to deinstall any packages not in list given to --set-selections.
dpkg --search filename-search-pattern..., dpkg -S filename-search-pattern...
Search for a filename from installed packages.
Given a file path, shows which package installed that file.

Package selection states

Running the dpkg --get-selections command prints output like the following. 

linux-modules-extra-5.13.0-48-generic           install
linux-modules-extra-5.13.0-51-generic           install
linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-43-generic            deinstall
linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-59-generic            deinstall
linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-63-generic            deinstall
linux-sound-base                                install
mesa-va-drivers:amd64                           install
mesa-va-drivers:i386                            install
memtest86+                                      install
mesa-common-dev:amd64                           install
mesa-utils                                      install
mesa-va-drivers:amd64                           install
mesa-va-drivers:i386                            install
metacity-common                                 install
microsoft-edge-stable                           install
mime-support                                    install
install
The package is selected for installation.
hold
A package marked to be on hold is kept on the same version, that is, no automatic new installs, upgrades or removals will be performed on them, unless these actions are requested explicitly, or are permitted to be done automatically with the --force-hold option.
deinstall
A package that has been removed except for its configuration files. 1
purge
The package is selected to be purged (i.e. we want to remove everything from system directories, even configuration files).
unknown
The package selection is unknown. A package that is also in a not-installed state, and with an ok flag will be forgotten in the next database store.

Linux Package management systems

Linux package management systems

dpkg

APT (Synaptic, Ubuntu Software Center, KPackage, Adept Manager), aptitude, dselect

RPM

APT-RPM, up2date, urpmi (Rpmdrake), ZYpp, YUM, DNF

Others

Pacman, ipkg, opkg, PPM, Upkg, PISI, Conary, Portage, Entropy, slapt-get, slackpkg, netpkg, swaret

Front-ends

PackageKit (GNOME Software, Apper), Autopackage, klik, Listaller, Zero Install

Related topics

AppData, AppStream, Application Packaging, Package format

See also

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References

  1. Original text: The package is selected for deinstallation (i.e. we want to remove all files, except configuration files). ↩

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