The Advanced Package Tool (apt) is the primary command-line utility for managing software on Debian-based systems, including Ubuntu.
It allows you to install, update, remove, and inspect software packages.
This page provides a reference list of common apt commands. Unlike tutorials or how-to guides, it is meant to be concise and scannable.
| Command | Purpose | Example |
|---|
sudo apt update | Refresh package lists from repositories | sudo apt update |
sudo apt upgrade | Upgrade all upgradable packages | sudo apt upgrade |
sudo apt full-upgrade | Upgrade packages and handle dependencies (may remove some packages) | sudo apt full-upgrade |
| Command | Purpose | Example |
|---|
sudo apt install <package> | Install a package | sudo apt install git |
sudo apt remove <package> | Remove a package (keep config files) | sudo apt remove nginx |
sudo apt purge <package> | Remove a package and its config files | sudo apt purge nginx |
| Command | Purpose | Example |
|---|
apt search <term> | Search for packages by name/description | apt search curl |
apt show <package> | Display detailed information about a package | apt show htop |
apt list --installed | List installed packages | `apt list —installed |
| Command | Purpose | Example |
|---|
sudo apt autoremove | Remove unused dependencies | sudo apt autoremove |
sudo apt clean | Clear downloaded package files in cache | sudo apt clean |
sudo apt --fix-broken install | Fix broken dependencies | sudo apt --fix-broken install |
apt is a friendlier interface introduced in newer Ubuntu releases; apt-get still works but is more verbose.- Always run
sudo apt update before installing to ensure you have the latest package information.
- Combine with
man apt for the complete manual.