Understanding the command "apt install curl nano unzip -y"

Question

I am trying to understand this command:

#apt install curl nano unzip -y

I think it to means install curl, unzip the archive and all questions answer yes.

Have I understood it correctly?

Answer 1

apt accepts multiple packages to install, this is what the ... from man apt means:

apt install pkg...

Your command will install the packages curl, nano and unzip. All questions (e.g. Do you want to install ...) will be answered with yes (-y).

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Generally, if you want to understand commands, you should check the synopsis from the commands help or man page and understand its syntax.

I shortened the command from man apt, leaving out all optional commands, to make it more clear, the actual Synopsis is a bit more complicated:

 apt [-h] [-o=config_string] [-c=config_file] [-t=target_release]
 install pkg [{=pkg_version_number | /target_release}]...

Some very short explanation of that line (For more, see the Link above):

• arg... one or more of of arg accepted
• [arg] optional argument
• arg | other_arg one of arg or other_arg.

(and combinations of these).