Toolbox Aid

August 9th, 2024 12:49 PM Mr. Q Categories: Command

Command: apt-cache search keyword

Used to search for packages in the repository whose names or descriptions match the specified keyword. This helps in finding packages related to a particular topic or functionality.

---

Sample Command and Output:

$ apt-cache search editor
vim - Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor
nano - small, friendly text editor inspired by Pico
gedit - Simple text editor
emacs - GNU Emacs editor

Description:

• apt-cache search <keyword>: Searches for packages in the repository that contain the specified keyword (editor in this example) in their name or description. This is useful for discovering packages related to a particular subject or task.

---

Additional Commands and Sample Outputs:

• apt-cache search --names-only keyword: Search for packages with the keyword in their names only. Sample Command and Output:

  $ apt-cache search --names-only editor
  vim
  nano
  gedit
  emacs

Description:

• apt-cache search --names-only <keyword>: Limits the search to package names only, ignoring the descriptions. This can help narrow down results to packages that specifically include the keyword in their names.
• apt-cache search --full-only keyword: Search for packages where the full package description contains the keyword. Sample Command and Output:

  $ apt-cache search --full-only editor
  vim - Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor
  nano - small, friendly text editor inspired by Pico

Description:

• apt-cache search --full-only <keyword>: Searches for packages where the keyword appears in the full package description, providing more detailed search results.

Note: Use apt-cache search to quickly locate packages related to a particular topic or functionality, making it easier to find and install relevant software.