(debian-policy.info)Binary packages

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3 Binary packages
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The Debian distribution is based on the Debian package management
system, called ‘dpkg’.  Thus, all packages in the Debian distribution
must be provided in the ‘.deb’ file format.

A ‘.deb’ package contains two sets of files: a set of files to install
on the system when the package is installed, and a set of files that
provide additional metadata about the package or which are executed when
the package is installed or removed.  This second set of files is called
`control information files'.  Among those files are the package
maintainer scripts and ‘control’, the *note binary package control file:
33. that contains the control fields for the package.  Other control
information files include Note: symbols. or Note: shlibs. used
to store shared library dependency information and the ‘conffiles’ file
that lists the package’s configuration files (described in Note:
Configuration files.).

There is unfortunately a collision of terminology here between control
information files and files in the Debian control file format.
Throughout this document, a `control file' refers to a file in the
Debian control file format.  These files are documented in Note: Control
files and their fields.  Only files referred to specifically as
`control information files' are the files included in the control
information file member of the ‘.deb’ file format used by binary
packages.  Most control information files are not in the Debian control
file format.

The package name

The version of a package

The maintainer of a package

The description of a package

Dependencies

Virtual packages

Base system

Essential packages

Maintainer Scripts