# Install libiconv with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop Conversion library. Version 1.19 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libiconv ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libiconv ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libiconv ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/libiconv/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libiconv ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: libiconv from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libiconv ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libiconv from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/iconv ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/iconv.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libiconv - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.19 - **Source summary:** Conversion library - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - iconv (cli) - iconv (alias) ## Build dependencies - autoconf - automake ## Uses from macOS - gperf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.19 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.gnu.org/software/libiconv/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage GNU libiconv is the GNU character-set conversion library for systems that lack a usable iconv implementation or lack Unicode-capable conversions. ### Project history The GNU project page frames libiconv around the internet-era problem of moving text among Unicode and older language- or country-dependent encodings. It provides both the iconv() library interface and an iconv command-line program. GNU libiconv's long-term role has been portability rather than novelty: it supplies consistent conversion support on platforms where libc iconv is absent, incomplete, or not compatible with the encodings an application needs. ### Adoption history The package became common in Unix packaging because many projects use Autoconf tests for iconv and need a fallback on macOS, BSD, Windows ports, or older commercial Unix systems. The GNU documentation explicitly calls out GNU gettext integration and the circular first-install relationship between gettext and libiconv on some systems, which is why packagers often care about bootstrap order. ### How it is used Developers link against libiconv through iconv_open, iconv, and iconv_close, while users can call the iconv program to convert files or streams between encodings. Build systems commonly surface it through LIBICONV or LTLIBICONV substitutions. ### Why package nerds care libiconv is one of the classic portability packages: invisible when libc has enough charset support, essential when it does not. It also exposes subtle packaging choices around libc replacement, gettext, locale charsets, and whether a dependency should use the system iconv or GNU's implementation. For package maintainers, it is a reminder that text encoding is infrastructure. A tiny mismatch in iconv availability can decide whether internationalized software builds or produces correct output. ### Timeline - 1998: GNU libiconv documentation carries Free Software Foundation copyright from this period. - 2024: GNU libiconv 1.18 release notes described POSIX:2024 API compatibility work. - 2026: The GNU project page documented libiconv 1.19 source and manuals. ### Related projects - GNU gettext is closely related because gettext can use libiconv for message conversion and shares build-system history around iconv.m4. - glibc iconv is the main system implementation that may make GNU libiconv unnecessary on GNU/Linux systems. - POSIX iconv is the standard API surface that libiconv implements for portable software. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libiconv - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Requirements:** macos - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** yes - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - libiconv: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: libiconv from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman - libiconv - 1.19-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: libiconv from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | GNU charset conversion library | http://www.gnu.org/software/libiconv/ - MacPorts - libiconv: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: textproc/libiconv/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Nix - iconv: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: iconv from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - Scoop - main/iconv: installed executable or alias match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/iconv.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [neomutt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/neomutt/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gspell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gspell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, text. - [uchardet](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/uchardet/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, text. - [bsdconv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bsdconv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: character-encoding, cli, developer-tools, library. - [figlet](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/figlet/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, text. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gnu, library. - [harfbuzz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/harfbuzz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, unicode. - [libunicode](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libunicode/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, unicode. - [ada-url](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ada-url/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [diffutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/diffutils/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gnu, text. - [ed](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ed/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gnu, text. - [enscript](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enscript/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gnu, text. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libiconv.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libiconv.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph