Which DPKG flag is used to search installed files for a package?

The flag used to search for installed files associated with a specific package in the DPKG package management system is -S. This flag allows users to query the database for packages that own files or directories, making it an effective tool for identifying which package a certain file belongs to. This is particularly useful in troubleshooting or managing installed software, as it provides clarity on package ownership.

In a practical scenario, if a user wants to determine which package installed a particular system file, they can use the -S flag followed by the file name. For instance, executing a command like dpkg -S /usr/bin/somefile would return the name of the package that includes that file.

The other flags serve different purposes: -L lists all the files installed by a specified package, -F is used to search for files based on a provided pattern, and -R may be used for recursive operations on package directories. Understanding the specific function of the -S flag is crucial for effectively utilizing DPKG in day-to-day Linux system administration tasks.