# deb-triggers(5) - man - phpMan

[deb-triggers(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/deb-triggers/5/markdown)                              dpkg suite                              [deb-triggers(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/deb-triggers/5/markdown)



## NAME
       deb-triggers - package triggers

## SYNOPSIS
       **debian/triggers**, **debian/**_binary-package_**.triggers**, **DEBIAN/triggers**

## DESCRIPTION
       A package declares its relationship to some trigger(s) by including a _triggers_ file in its
       control archive (i.e. _DEBIAN/triggers_ during package creation).

       This file contains directives, one per line. Leading and trailing whitespace and everything
       after the first **#** on any line will be trimmed, and empty lines will be ignored.

       The trigger control directives currently supported are:

       **interest** _trigger-name_
       **interest-await** _trigger-name_
       **interest-noawait** _trigger-name_
           Specifies that the package is interested in the named trigger. All triggers in which a
           package is interested must be listed using this directive in the triggers control file.

           The “await” variants put the triggering package in triggers-awaited state depending on
           how the trigger was activated.  The “noawait” variant does not put the triggering
           packages in triggers-awaited state, even if the triggering package declared an “await”
           activation (either with an **activate-await** or **activate** directive, or by using the **dpkg-**
           **trigger** **--no-await** command-line option).  The “noawait” variant should be used when the
           functionality provided by the trigger is not crucial.

       **activate** _trigger-name_
       **activate-await** _trigger-name_
       **activate-noawait** _trigger-name_
           Arranges that changes to this package's state will activate the specified trigger. The
           trigger will be activated at the start of the following operations: unpack, configure,
           remove (including for the benefit of a conflicting package), purge and deconfigure.

           The “await” variants only put the triggering package in triggers-awaited state if the
           interest directive is also “await”.  The “noawait” variant never puts the triggering
           packages in triggers-awaited state.  The “noawait” variant should be used when the
           functionality provided by the trigger is not crucial.

           If this package disappears during the unpacking of another package the trigger will be
           activated when the disappearance is noted towards the end of the unpack. Trigger
           processing, and transition from triggers-awaited to installed, does not cause
           activations.  In the case of unpack, triggers mentioned in both the old and new versions
           of the package will be activated.

       Unknown directives are an error which will prevent installation of the package.

       The “-noawait” variants should always be favored when possible since triggering packages are
       not put in triggers-awaited state and can thus be immediately configured without requiring
       the processing of the trigger.  If the triggering packages are dependencies of other upgraded
       packages, it will avoid an early trigger processing run and make it possible to run the
       trigger only once as one of the last steps of the upgrade.

       The “-noawait” variants are supported since dpkg 1.16.1, and will lead to errors if used with
       an older dpkg.

       The “-await” alias variants are supported since dpkg 1.17.21, and will lead to errors if used
       with an older dpkg.

       When a package provides an **interest-noawait** directive, any activation will set the triggering
       package into “noawait” mode, regardless of the awaiting mode requested by the activation
       (either “await” or “noawait”).  When a package provides an **interest** or **interest-await**
       directive, any activation will set the triggering package into “await” or “noawait“ depending
       on how it was activated.

## SEE ALSO
       [**dpkg-trigger**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg-trigger/1/markdown), [**dpkg**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg/1/markdown), **/usr/share/doc/dpkg/triggers.txt.gz**.



1.21.1                                       2025-09-09                              [deb-triggers(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/deb-triggers/5/markdown)