dpkg command cheat sheet for Debian Linux

dpkg is package manager for Debian Linux which is use to install/manage individual packages. Here is quick cheat sheet you will find handy while using dpkg at shell prompt:

SyntaxDescriptionExample
dpkg -i {.deb package}Install the packagedpkg -i zip_2.31-3_i386.deb
dpkg -i {.deb package}Upgrade package if it is installed else install a fresh copy of packagedpkg -i zip_2.31-3_i386.deb
dpkg -R {Directory-name}Install all packages recursively from directorydpkg -R /tmp/downloads
dpkg -r {package}Remove/Delete an installed package except configuration filesdpkg -r zip
dpkg -P {package}Remove/Delete everything including configuration filesdpkg -P apache-perl
dpkg -lList all installed packages, along with package version and short descriptiondpkg -ldokg -l
lessdpkg -l 'apache'
dpkg -l
dpkg -l {package}List individual installed packages, along with package version and short descriptiondpkg -l apache-perl
dpkg -L {package}Find out files are provided by the installed package i.e. list where files were installeddpkg -L apache-perl
dpkg -L perl
dpkg -c {.Deb package}List files provided (or owned) by the package i.e. List all files inside debian .deb package file, very useful to find where files would be installeddpkg -c dc_1.06-19_i386.deb
dpkg -S {/path/to/file}Find what package owns the file i.e. find out what package does file belongdpkg -S /bin/netstat
dpkg -S /sbin/ippool
dpkg -p {package}Display details about package package group, version, maintainer, Architecture, display depends packages, description etcdpkg -p lsof
dpkg -s {package}grep StatusFind out if Debian package is installed or not (status)

{package} - Replace with actual package name