What does the RPM command with the flag -V do?

The RPM command with the flag -V is used to verify a package. This means that it checks the installed package's files against the package metadata to ensure they have not been altered, corrupted, or removed. When verification is performed, the command compares file sizes, checksums, modification times, and permissions of the files against the information stored in the RPM database, which can help in diagnosing potential issues with packages or ensuring that they are intact and correctly installed.

This command is an essential part of package management in Linux, particularly when troubleshooting system integrity or ensuring that updates or installations have proceeded correctly. Verifying packages can indicate if any files have been inadvertently modified or if a package is in a compromised state.