Fedora’s DNF Package Management System (original) (raw)
Last Updated : 18 May, 2026
DNF (Dandified YUM) is the default package manager used in Fedora to install, update, remove and manage software packages. RPM installs local packages and does not resolve dependencies automatically and dependency handling is done by DNF.
- DNF provides a command-line interface to manage RPM packages efficiently in Fedora-based Linux distributions.
- It improves performance and dependency handling compared to older tools like YUM.
- DNF supports features such as package groups, repositories, and transaction history.
- It helps keep the system secure and up to date by managing software updates and patches.
Example: Searching for Packages
To search for a package, you need to Use the dnf search command with the package that you want and it will show you all available packages matching that query:
**Command:
dnf search vlc
**Output:
DNF vs RPM
RPM is the low-level package management system used in Fedora, while DNF works on top of RPM.
- RPM installs local packages but does not resolve dependencies automatically
- DNF automatically finds, installs, and manages dependencies
- Fedora documentation recommends DNF over direct RPM usage
- RPM acts as the backend engine, while DNF is the user-facing tool
Key Features
1. High-Level Package Management
- Installs, removes, updates, and reinstalls packages easily
- Handles dependency resolution automatically
2. Repository Management
- Uses online repositories to fetch packages
- Supports official and third-party repositories
3. Transaction History
- Maintains a history of package operations
- Allows tracking and rollback of changes
4. Security and Updates
- Applies security patches and system updates
- Keeps the system stable and up to date
Syntax
dnf [options] COMMAND
- **options: Modify the behavior of the command
- **COMMAND: Specifies the action DNF should perform
Common DNF Commands
1. Installing Packages
To install software packages from repositories, the install command is used. This command requires sudo privileges.
sudo dnf install package_name
**Command:
sudo dnf install vlc.x86_64
using DNF to install one package
**Command: To install multiple packages
sudo dnf install vlc.x86_64 firefox.x86_64
**Output:
Installing multiple packages using DNF
2. Upgrading Packages and System
To update all installed packages along with the system, the upgrade command is used.
**Command:
sudo dnf upgrade
**Output:
Upgrading using DNF
3. Upgrading a Specific Package
To update a single package:
**Command:
sudo dnf upgrade firefox.x86_64
**Output:
Upgrading individual package using DNF
4. Listing Available Updates
To check available updates without installing them:
**Command:
dnf check-update
**Output:
Checking for updates using DNF
5. Removing a Package
To uninstall a package from the system, the remove command is used.
sudo dnf remove firefox.x86_64
**Output:
Removing packages using DNF
6. Removing Multiple Packages
To remove more than one package:
**Syntax:
sudo dnf remove package1 package2 package3
**Output:
Removing multiple packages using DNF
7. Removing Unused Dependencies
To clean up unused dependencies left after package removal:
**Command:
sudo dnf autoremove
**Output:
Auto-removing leftover dependencies using DNF
8. Reinstalling a Package
If a package is corrupted or not functioning properly, it can be reinstalled.
**Command:
sudo dnf reinstall firefox.x86_64
**Output:
Reinstalling using DNF
9. Listing All Available Packages
To list all packages available in enabled repositories:
**Command:
dnf list
10. Listing Installed Packages
To display only installed packages:
**Command:
dnf list --installed
**Output:
Listing installed apps
11. Searching Within Installed Packages
To find a specific installed package using grep:
**Command:
dnf list --installed | grep firefox
**Output:
Searching Within Installed Packages
12. Getting Help with DNF
To display all basic commands and options
**Command:
dnf --help
13. Viewing the Manual Pages
For detailed documentation of DNF:
**Command:
man dnf