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apt-get:tldr:0e2d9
The "apt-get autoclean" command is used in the Debian and Ubuntu operating systems to clean the local repository of retrieved package files that are no longer needed.
When you install or update software packages on your system using the "apt-get" command, the package files are downloaded and stored in the local repository located in the "/var/cache/apt/archives" directory. Over time, these package files can accumulate and take up disk space.
The "autoclean" option of "apt-get" allows you to automatically remove all the package files that have been downloaded and are no longer available in any enabled repository. These files are essentially obsolete as they cannot be used to install or update software anymore.
By running "apt-get autoclean," you can free up disk space by removing unnecessary package files from the local repository while keeping the packages that are still installable or upgradable.
It is worth noting that "apt-get autoclean" only removes packages that are no longer available in any repository. Packages that are still available or that have been installed remain untouched.
In summary, "apt-get autoclean" is used to clean the local repository by removing package files that are no longer needed, helping to free up disk space on your system.