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XK0-006 Practice Question: A developer is writing a Bash script that must be…
A developer is writing a Bash script that must be portable across different Linux distributions. The script needs to check if a package is installed. Which command should be used to achieve this portability?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently choose `dpkg` or `rpm` because they are familiar with checking packages on their own distribution, but the question explicitly requires portability across different Linux distributions, making the distribution-agnostic `command -v` the correct choice.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
command -v package
The `command -v package` command is the most portable way to check if a package is installed across different Linux distributions because it uses the POSIX-standard `command` shell built-in, which works in any Bourne-compatible shell (bash, sh, dash, etc.) regardless of the underlying package manager. It returns the path to the executable if the package's binary is in the PATH, or nothing if it is not installed, making it distribution-agnostic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
which package
Why it's wrong here
Not always installed.
- ✓
command -v package
Why this is correct
POSIX-compliant.
- ✗
dpkg -l package
Why it's wrong here
Debian-specific.
- ✗
rpm -q package
Why it's wrong here
Red Hat-specific.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
Bash script
A Bash script is a text file containing a sequence of commands for the Unix shell Bash, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and streamline system administration on Linux and macOS.
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
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