Master Linux Package Managers: dpkg, apt, rpm, yum, and dnf Explained

Package management systems not only install software but also provide tools to update already installed packages. Repositories help ensure that the code used on your system has been reviewed and that package versions are approved by developers and maintainers.

1. dpkg

Ubuntu, Debian

dpkg

is the utility used by Debian‑based systems to install, create, and manage software packages.

Command line usage

# dpkg(option)(parameter)
$ dpkg --help
Usage: dpkg [<option> ...] <command>

# Options
-i: install package
-r: remove package
-P: purge package and its configuration files
-L: list files belonging to a package
-l: list installed packages
--unpack: unpack a package
-c: list files in a package
--configure: configure a package

# Parameters
.deb package: the .deb file to operate on

Example commands

# install a package
$ dpkg -i package.deb

# remove a package
$ dpkg -r package

# purge a package (including config files)
$ dpkg -P package

# list files belonging to a package
$ dpkg -L package

# show package version
$ dpkg -l package

# unpack a .deb file
$ dpkg --unpack package.deb

# search for a file in packages
$ dpkg -S keyword

# list all installed packages
$ dpkg -l

# list contents of a .deb file
$ dpkg -c package.deb

# configure a package
$ dpkg --configure package

# query installed packages
$ sudo dpkg-query -l
$ sudo dpkg-query -l | less
$ sudo dpkg-query -l | grep tmux

2. apt

Ubuntu, Debian

apt-get

(often invoked as apt) is the APT package management tool used by Debian‑based distributions.

Command line usage

# apt-get(option)(parameter)
$ apt --help
Usage: apt [options] command

# Options
-c: specify configuration file

# Parameters
command: manage APT packages (install, remove, update, etc.)
package: the target package name

Example commands

# update package lists
$ apt-get update

# upgrade all installed packages
$ apt-get upgrade

# distribution upgrade
$ apt-get dist-upgrade

# install a new package
$ apt-get install packagename

# remove a package but keep config files
$ apt-get remove packagename

# purge a package (remove config files)
$ apt-get --purge remove packagename

# clean downloaded package files
$ apt-get autoclean
$ apt-get clean

# list installed packages
$ sudo apt list --installed
$ sudo apt list --installed | less
$ sudo apt list --installed | grep tmux

3. rpm

RHEL, CentOS

rpm

is the Red Hat Package Manager used to manage RPM packages on Red Hat‑based systems.

Command line usage

# rpm(option)(parameter)
$ rpm --help
Usage: rpm [OPTION...]

# Options
-a: query all packages
-c: list configuration files (used with "-l")
-d: list documentation files (used with "-l")
-e<package> or --erase <package>: erase a package
-f<file>: query which package owns a file
-h or --hash: display package header hash
-i: display package information
-i<package> or --install <package>: install a package
-l: list files in a package
-p<package>: query a package file
-q: query mode (asks before actions)
-R: display package relationships
-s: show file status (used with "-l")
-U<package> or --upgrade <package>: upgrade a package
-v: verbose output
-vv: very verbose (useful for debugging)

# Parameters
package: the RPM package to operate on

Example commands

# install a package
$ rpm -ivh your-package.rpm

# force installation
$ rpm --force -ivh your-package.rpm

# uninstall a package
$ rpm -e proftpd-1.2.8

# list all installed packages
$ rpm -qa
$ rpm -qa | grep sql

# list files from an installed package
$ rpm -ql your-package.rpm

# list files from an uninstalled package file
$ rpm -qlp your-package.rpm

# find which package provides a program
$ rpm -qf `which program`
$ rpm -qif `which program`
$ rpm -qlf `which program`

4. yum

CentOS 6, CentOS 7

yum

is the front‑end package manager for RPM‑based distributions such as Fedora, Red Hat, and SUSE.

Command line usage

# yum(option)(parameter)
$ yum --help
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks
Usage: yum [options] COMMAND

# Options
-h: show help
-y: answer yes to all prompts
-c: specify config file
-q: quiet mode
-v: verbose mode
-d: debug level (0‑10)
-e: error level (0‑10)
-R: set maximum wait time for a command
-C: run entirely from cache

# Parameters
install: install an RPM package
update: update an RPM package
check-update: check for available updates
remove: delete a package
list: display package information
search: search package metadata
info: show detailed package description
clean: clean cached data
shell: enter yum shell
resolvedep: show package dependencies
localinstall: install a local RPM
localupdate: update a local RPM
deplist: list all dependencies of a package

Example commands

# install a package
$ yum install package1
$ yum groupinstall group1

# update all packages
$ yum update
$ yum update package1
$ yum check-update
$ yum upgrade package1
$ yum groupupdate group1

# query installed packages
$ yum list installed | grep mysql
$ yum list mysql*
$ yum info package1
$ yum list
$ yum list package1
$ yum groupinfo group1

# remove packages
$ yum remove package1
$ yum groupremove group1
$ yum deplist package1

# clean caches
$ yum clean packages
$ yum clean headers
$ yum clean oldheaders

5. dnf

RHEL 8, CentOS 8

dnf

is the next‑generation package manager that replaces yum; it uses libsolv for dependency resolution and is written in Python.

Installing DNF

# enable EPEL repository
$ yum install -y epel-release

# install DNF
$ yum install -y dnf

# verify installation
$ dnf --version

Common DNF commands

# install a package
$ dnf install nano

# upgrade a package
$ dnf update systemd

# upgrade all packages
$ dnf update
$ dnf upgrade

# check for updates
$ dnf check-update

# remove a package
$ dnf remove nano
$ dnf erase nano

# clean unused packages and caches
$ dnf autoremove
$ dnf clean all

# list repositories
$ dnf repolist
$ dnf repolist all

# list all RPM packages
$ dnf list
$ dnf list installed
$ dnf list available

# search packages
$ dnf search nano

# find which package provides a file
$ dnf provides /bin/bash

# show package details
$ dnf info nano

# manage package groups
$ dnf grouplist
$ dnf groupinstall 'Educational Software'
$ dnf groupupdate 'Educational Software'
$ dnf groupremove 'Educational Software'

# reinstall a package
$ dnf reinstall nano

# downgrade a package
$ dnf downgrade acpid

# view command history
$ dnf history

# get help for a command
$ dnf help
$ dnf help clean

These tools together cover the most widely used Linux package management workflows across both Debian‑based and Red Hat‑based ecosystems.