How do I get details about a package which isn't installed?

How can I get some details about a package without installing it, (eg. the description and version number) like in Synaptic or Aptitude. The command

dpkg -s PACKAGE

does not work, with this error. It works for installed packages, though

dpkg-query: package 'PACKAGE' is not installed and no information is available

3 Answers

For packages that are in your repositories you can use:

dpkg --print-avail PACKAGE_NAME

or

apt-cache show PACKAGE_NAME

or

aptitude show PACKAGE_NAME

or

apt show PACKAGE_NAME

The apt-cache show command can be used, instead of dpkg -s. Like this:

apt-cache show PACKAGE

(source)

apt show

Or for more details

apt show -a

This will show only the description:

LANG=C apt show -a "$PKGNAME"|grep Description: -A99