# apt-file

> Search for files in apt packages, including ones not yet installed.
> More information: <https://manpages.debian.org/latest/apt-file/apt-file.1.html>.

- Update the metadata database:

`sudo apt update`

- Search for packages that contain the specified file or path:

`apt-file {{search|find}} {{part/of/filename}}`

- List the contents of a specific package:

`apt-file {{show|list}} {{package_name}}`

- Search for packages that match the regular expresssion given in `pattern`:

`apt-file {{search|find}} --regexp {{pattern}}`