apt update vs. apt upgrade: What Are the Differences? – MakeUseOf

The entire Linux ecosystem works on the concept of packages; each package on Linux is crucial for ensuring the smooth functioning of the operating system. To update your packages on Debian and Ubuntu-based distributions, you might need to run from pillar to post, trying to figure out the best way to update all the essential software. When looking for ways to update packages, you will come across commands like apt update, apt upgrade, and related versions. But the point is, what’s the difference between these commands, and how can you use them to update your Linux packages? apt update vs. apt upgrade: A Comparison Even though the apt update command might seem like the obvious go-to option to update your packages on Linux, it’s not entirely the case. The update command gives you an idea about the available updates, but it does not download or install the updates within your distro. On the other hand, the apt upgrade command downloads and installs available updates on your machine in one go. Your Linux system has an available cache of software (packages), which contains the necessary metadata related to those packages. The metadata includes information pertaining to the version, repository, dependency, and…
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