(debian-policy.info)Replacing whole packages forcing their removal

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7.6.2 Replacing whole packages, forcing their removal
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Second, ‘Replaces’ allows the packaging system to resolve which package
should be removed when there is a conflict (see Note: Conflicting binary
packages - Conflicts.).  This usage only takes effect when the two
packages `do' conflict, so that the two usages of this field do not
interfere with each other.

In this situation, the package declared as being replaced can be a
virtual package, so for example, all mail transport agents (MTAs) would
have the following fields in their control files:

     Provides: mail-transport-agent
     Conflicts: mail-transport-agent
     Replaces: mail-transport-agent

ensuring that only one MTA can be unpacked at any one time.  See Note:
Virtual packages - Provides. for more information about this
example.