---
title: Install universal-ctags on Linux | Snap Store
description: Get the latest version of universal-ctags for Linux - Universal-Ctags
  packaged as an installable snap for Linux
url: https://snapcraft.io/universal-ctags
---

# universal-ctags

[Jonathan Hartley (tartley)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/tartley "View all snaps from Jonathan Hartley (tartley)")

* [Jonathan Hartley (tartley)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/tartley "View all snaps from Jonathan Hartley (tartley)")
* [Development](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=development)

latest/stable 0.2024-05-27+09:10:28+653ca9204

Install latest/stable of universal-ctags

---

**Install using the command line**

```
sudo snap install universal-ctags
```

Don't have snapd? [Get set up for snaps](https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snapd).

---

### Package name

* universal-ctags

---

### License

* GPL-2.0+

---

### Last updated

* 4 November 2024 - latest/stable
* 5 June 2026 - latest/edge

---

### Websites

* [ctags.io](https://ctags.io/ "https://ctags.io/")

---

### Contact

* [tartley@tartley.com](mailto:tartley@tartley.com "mailto:tartley@tartley.com")

---

### Command › Alias

* universal-ctags.universal-ctags › ctags

---

##### Report a Snap Store violation

* [Report this Snap](https://snapcraft.io/universal-ctags#report-snap-modal)

---

* [Description](https://snapcraft.io/universal-ctags#tab-description)
* [Security](https://snapcraft.io/universal-ctags#tab-security)

#### Universal-Ctags packaged as an installable snap for Linux

Ctags parses source code to produce an index file, mapping the names of
symbols, like functions, classes, and variables, to the locations where
they are defined. This index is used by editors like Vim and Emacs
to enable features like 'go to definition'.

Universal Ctags (<https://ctags.io/>) is an active fork of the venerable
Exuberant Ctags (<http://ctags.sourceforge.net/>, last release 2009), that
adds additional features, including support for more languages.

This is the snap package of universal-ctags
(<https://snapcraft.io/universal-ctags>),
which installs the application binary on any Linux distribution.

**Usage**

When installed, this snap provides executable `universal-ctags`,
and alias `ctags`.

```
ctags [options] [target files or directories]
```

eg. `ctags -R .` (`-R` or `--recurse` to recursively search directories),
or `ctags -R --languages=python --exclude=.git src/`.

This snap does not install the man pages. See the online universal-ctags man
pages at <http://docs.ctags.io/en/latest/man/ctags.1.html>
for options and usage details.

**Limitations**

Compared to universal-ctags installed using apt, or compiled from source,
this snap has some limitations, introduced by snap security restrictions.

1. Source files cannot be scanned if they are:

   * Outside the user's $HOME directory, or
   * In a top-level hidden directory in $HOME, eg. `~/.src`.

   Lower-level hidden directories, eg. `~/proj/.src`, can be scanned.
2. Ctags usually reads config from the following directories:

   * The user's `~/.ctags.d/` is read as expected.
   * The current directory's `ctags.d` is not read by default,
     but the '--options' arg can be used to read from it.
   * The current directory's `.ctags.d` cannot be read.
3. Configuration in other places, specified using `--options`
   or `--options-maybe`, will not be read if they are outside the
   user's HOME, or in a top-level hidden directory.
4. Tag files written using '-f' options or similar may not be outside
   the user's $HOME directory, nor in a top-level hidden file or directory.
   You may be able to work around this by using `-f -` and redirecting stdout
   to the required location.
5. The universal-ctags man pages are not installed. But you can see them
   online at <http://docs.ctags.io/en/latest/man/ctags.1.html>
6. The 'etags' executable alias (which defaults to Emacs style tags files)
   is not installed. Use `ctags --output-format=etags` or `ctags -e` instead.

If these or other issues cause you problems, please
file an issue at <https://github.com/universal-ctags/ctags-snap/issues>.

---

## Install universal-ctags on your Linux distribution

Choose your Linux distribution to get detailed installation instructions. If yours is not shown, get more details on the [installing snapd documentation](https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snapd).

[### Arch Linux](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/arch)

[### CentOS](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/centos)

[### Debian](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/debian)

[### elementary OS](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/elementary)

[### Fedora](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/fedora)

[### KDE Neon](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/kde-neon)

[### Kubuntu](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/kubuntu)

[### Manjaro](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/manjaro)

[### Pop!\_OS](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/pop)

[### openSUSE](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/opensuse)

[### Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/rhel)

[### Ubuntu](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/ubuntu)

[### Raspberry Pi](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/raspbian)