Distinction between apt-cache and dpkg -l












2















I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as 



me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l

62803


get 62803 results



but 



me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l

2336


What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.






package-management







share|improve this question



























    2















    I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as 



    me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
    
62803


    get 62803 results



    but 



    me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
    
2336


    What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.






    package-management







    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2


      1






      I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as 



      me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
      
62803


      get 62803 results



      but 



      me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
      
2336


      What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.






      package-management







      share|improve this question














      I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as 



      me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
      
62803


      get 62803 results



      but 



      me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
      
2336


      What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.






      package-management




      package-management






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 59 mins ago









      AliceAlice

      443110




      443110






















          1 Answer
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          apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



          apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



          $ apt-cache policy terminator
          
terminator:
          
  Installed: (none)
          
  Candidate: 1.91-1
          

          

          
$ dpkg -l terminator
          
dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





          share|improve this answer

























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            active

            oldest

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            2














            apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



            apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



            $ apt-cache policy terminator
            
terminator:
            
  Installed: (none)
            
  Candidate: 1.91-1
            

            

            
$ dpkg -l terminator
            
dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





            share|improve this answer






























              2














              apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



              apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



              $ apt-cache policy terminator
              
terminator:
              
  Installed: (none)
              
  Candidate: 1.91-1
              

              

              
$ dpkg -l terminator
              
dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





              share|improve this answer




























                2












                2








                2







                apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



                apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



                $ apt-cache policy terminator
                
terminator:
                
  Installed: (none)
                
  Candidate: 1.91-1
                

                

                
$ dpkg -l terminator
                
dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





                share|improve this answer















                apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



                apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



                $ apt-cache policy terminator
                
terminator:
                
  Installed: (none)
                
  Candidate: 1.91-1
                

                

                
$ dpkg -l terminator
                
dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator






                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 21 mins ago

























                answered 30 mins ago









                Sergiy KolodyazhnyySergiy Kolodyazhnyy

                73.9k9154323




                73.9k9154323






























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