dpkg is package manager for Debian Linux which is use to install/manage individual packages. Here is quick cheat sheet you will find handy while using dpkg at shell prompt:

Syntax Description Example
dpkg -i {.deb package} Install the package dpkg -i zip_2.31-3_i386.deb
dpkg -i {.deb package} Upgrade package if it is installed else install a fresh copy of package dpkg -i zip_2.31-3_i386.deb
dpkg -R {Directory-name} Install all packages recursively from directory dpkg -R /tmp/downloads
dpkg -r {package} Remove/Delete an installed package except configuration files dpkg -r zip
dpkg -P {package} Remove/Delete everything including configuration files dpkg -P apache-perl
dpkg -l List all installed packages, along with package version and short description dpkg -l
dokg -l | less
dpkg -l '*apache*'
dpkg -l | grep -i 'sudo'
dpkg -l {package} List individual installed packages, along with package version and short description dpkg -l apache-perl
dpkg -L {package} Find out files are provided by the installed package i.e. list where files were installed dpkg -L apache-perl
dpkg -L perl
dpkg -c {.Deb package} List files provided (or owned) by the package i.e. List all files inside debian .deb package file, very useful to find where files would be installed dpkg -c dc_1.06-19_i386.deb
dpkg -S {/path/to/file} Find what package owns the file i.e. find out what package does file belong dpkg -S /bin/netstat
dpkg -S /sbin/ippool
dpkg -p {package} Display details about package package group, version, maintainer, Architecture, display depends packages, description etc dpkg -p lsof
dpkg -s {package} | grep Status Find out if Debian package is installed or not (status) dpkg -s lsof | grep Status

{package} - Replace with actual package name