softwareupdate:tldr:67710

The command "softwareupdate --list" is used to display a list of the available software updates for your device. When executed, it fetches information from Apple's update servers and presents a list of all the updates that are currently available to be installed on your system.

The output of this command typically includes details about each update, such as the update's identifier, version number, and the size of the update file. It may also provide additional information like the recommended or required installation date, release notes, or any prerequisites for installing the update.

By running this command, you can quickly see what updates are available for your operating system and other installed Apple software. This allows you to conveniently decide which updates you want to install, and you can use other commands like "softwareupdate --install [update-identifier]" to actually install specific updates from the list.