ubuntu package management question

[Tom H]

On Fri, Dec 11, 2020 at 3:46 PM Robert Heller <heller at deepsoft.com>
wrote:
>
> If one wants to install some program or library and knows the name
> of the program or library how does one find out what the *package
> name* is? Is there no utility like 'yum search' (available on
> RedHat flavored systems)?
>
> Specifically, I need qmake for QT5 installed on a Ubuntu 18.04
> system. What package do I install? dpkg-query is no help. Or
> must I search through the _Package files in /var/lib/apt/lists/?
> Is there no better way? Has noone created a utility for this?

Install "apt-file" and search.