Search package metadata locally and inspect details with the apt-cache tool to find the right Debian/Ubuntu package quickly. 16.11.2025 | reading time: 2 min Quick question: need to find which package provides a tool or a daemon, or want to read a package description without opening a browser; use apt-cache to search the local APT cache and inspect package metadata quickly. Try this: search then show Do this: search for packages related to nginx and then inspect the selected package; example session: ```bash $ apt-cache search nginx nginx - small, powerful, scalable web/proxy server nginx-core - nginx web/proxy server (core version) nginx-full - nginx web/proxy server (standard version) nginx-light - nginx web/proxy server (light version) $ apt-cache show nginx Package: nginx Architecture: amd64 Version: 1.18.0-6ubuntu14.4 Priority: optional Section: httpd Installed-Size: 512 Depends: nginx-core (= 1.18.0-6ubuntu14.4) Description: small, powerful, scalable web/proxy server Nginx is a high performance web server and a reverse proxy server for HTTP, TCP, and UDP protocols. ``` Dig deeper with focused queries Beyond simple search, run `apt-cache policy` to see candidate versions and origin, use `apt-cache showpkg` to reveal reverse dependencies and available versions, and `apt-cache depends` to list package dependencies; remember to run `sudo apt update` first to refresh the local cache so results reflect the latest indexes. When apt-cache is not enough For interactive installs and human-friendly output prefer `apt`, for low-level package file queries use `dpkg -S` or `dpkg -l`, and if you need a curses UI consider `aptitude`; use `apt-rdepends` when you must expand full reverse dependency trees. Wrap-up and next steps Apt-cache is a fast, local tool for finding and inspecting package metadata, ideal for troubleshooting and planning upgrades; practice these queries on your system, then deepen knowledge with package management tools and certification paths such as CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1 — consider bitsandbytes.academy for intensive exam preparation. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. utilities troubleshooting infrastructure scripting
