---
title: "Linux Package Management Reference: apt, dnf, pacman"
domain: linux
category: packages
tags: [packages, apt, dnf, pacman, linux, distros]
status: published
created: 2026-03-08
updated: 2026-03-08
---

# Linux Package Management Reference: apt, dnf, pacman

Every major Linux distro has a package manager. The commands are different but the concepts are the same: install, remove, update, search. Here's the equivalent commands across the three you're most likely to encounter.

## Common Tasks by Package Manager

| Task | apt (Debian/Ubuntu) | dnf (Fedora/RHEL) | pacman (Arch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update package index | `apt update` | `dnf check-update` | `pacman -Sy` |
| Upgrade all packages | `apt upgrade` | `dnf upgrade` | `pacman -Su` |
| Update index + upgrade | `apt update && apt upgrade` | `dnf upgrade` | `pacman -Syu` |
| Install a package | `apt install pkg` | `dnf install pkg` | `pacman -S pkg` |
| Remove a package | `apt remove pkg` | `dnf remove pkg` | `pacman -R pkg` |
| Remove + config files | `apt purge pkg` | `dnf remove pkg` | `pacman -Rn pkg` |
| Search for a package | `apt search term` | `dnf search term` | `pacman -Ss term` |
| Show package info | `apt show pkg` | `dnf info pkg` | `pacman -Si pkg` |
| List installed | `apt list --installed` | `dnf list installed` | `pacman -Q` |
| Which pkg owns file | `dpkg -S /path/to/file` | `rpm -qf /path/to/file` | `pacman -Qo /path/to/file` |
| List files in pkg | `dpkg -L pkg` | `rpm -ql pkg` | `pacman -Ql pkg` |
| Clean cache | `apt clean` | `dnf clean all` | `pacman -Sc` |

## apt (Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives)

```bash
# Always update before installing
sudo apt update

# Install
sudo apt install nginx

# Install multiple
sudo apt install nginx curl git

# Remove
sudo apt remove nginx

# Remove with config files
sudo apt purge nginx

# Autoremove orphaned dependencies
sudo apt autoremove

# Search
apt search nginx

# Show package details
apt show nginx

# Upgrade a specific package
sudo apt install --only-upgrade nginx
```

**APT sources** live in `/etc/apt/sources.list` and `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/`. Third-party PPAs go here. After adding a source, run `apt update` before installing from it.

## dnf (Fedora, RHEL, AlmaLinux, Rocky)

```bash
# Update everything
sudo dnf upgrade

# Install
sudo dnf install nginx

# Remove
sudo dnf remove nginx

# Search
dnf search nginx

# Info
dnf info nginx

# List groups (collections of packages)
dnf group list

# Install a group
sudo dnf group install "Development Tools"

# History — see what was installed and when
dnf history
dnf history info <id>

# Undo a transaction
sudo dnf history undo <id>
```

dnf's history and undo features are underused and genuinely useful when you've installed something that broke things.

## pacman (Arch, Manjaro)

```bash
# Full system update (do this before anything else, Arch is rolling)
sudo pacman -Syu

# Install
sudo pacman -S nginx

# Remove
sudo pacman -R nginx

# Remove with dependencies not needed by anything else
sudo pacman -Rs nginx

# Search
pacman -Ss nginx

# Info
pacman -Si nginx

# Query installed packages
pacman -Q          # all installed
pacman -Qs nginx   # search installed
pacman -Qi nginx   # info on installed package

# Find orphaned packages
pacman -Qdt

# Clean package cache
sudo pacman -Sc    # keep installed versions
sudo pacman -Scc   # remove all cached packages
```

**AUR (Arch User Repository)** — packages not in the official repos. Use an AUR helper like `yay` or `paru`:

```bash
# Install yay
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay && makepkg -si

# Then use like pacman
yay -S package-name
```

## Flatpak and Snap (Distro-Agnostic)

For software that isn't in your distro's repos or when you want a sandboxed installation:

```bash
# Flatpak
flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client
flatpak run com.spotify.Client
flatpak update

# Snap
sudo snap install spotify
sudo snap refresh
```

Flatpak is what I prefer — better sandboxing story, Flathub has most things you'd want. Snap works fine but the infrastructure is more centralized.

## Gotchas & Notes

- **Always `apt update` before `apt install`.** Installing from a stale index can grab outdated versions or fail entirely.
- **`apt upgrade` vs `apt full-upgrade`:** `full-upgrade` (or `dist-upgrade`) allows package removal to resolve conflicts. Use it for major upgrades. `upgrade` won't remove anything.
- **Arch is rolling — update frequently.** Partial upgrades on Arch cause breakage. Always do `pacman -Syu` (full update) before installing anything.
- **dnf is noticeably slower than apt on first run** due to metadata downloads. Gets faster after the cache is warm.
- **Don't mix package sources carelessly.** Adding random PPAs (apt) or COPR repos (dnf) can conflict with each other. Keep third-party sources to a minimum.

## See Also

- [linux-distro-guide-beginners](../distro-specific/linux-distro-guide-beginners.md)
- [linux-server-hardening-checklist](../../02-selfhosting/security/linux-server-hardening-checklist.md)