rdepends

rdepends is a command-line utility used in the Debian and Ubuntu operating systems, and other systems derived from Debian, for querying the reverse dependencies of a package. Reverse dependencies, often referred to as "rdepends" or "dependents," are packages that require a specific package to be installed in order to function correctly. In essence, if package A depends on package B, then package B has a reverse dependency on package A. The rdepends command helps users understand which other software on their system would be affected if a particular package were removed or upgraded.

To use rdepends, a user typically invokes it from the terminal followed by the name of the package they are interested in. For example, running rdepends <package_name> will list all packages that have a dependency on <package_name>. This information is invaluable for system administrators and advanced users when performing system maintenance, troubleshooting dependency issues, or planning software updates. Understanding these relationships can prevent unintended removal of critical software or identify the root cause of broken packages. The command is part of the dpkg-utils package, which provides various tools for managing Debian packages.