macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install nftableslocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install nftables with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper
Netfilter tables userspace tools. Version 1.1.6 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add nftablesAlpine Linux edge package indexes · nftables · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libnftables-devDebian stable package indexes · libnftables-dev · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install nftablesFedora Rawhide package metadata · nftables · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#nftablesnixpkgs package indexes · nftables · source: raw.githubusercontent.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S nftablesArch Linux sync databases · nftables · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libnftables1openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libnftables1 · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Netfilter tables userspace tools
Project links
Commands and aliases
- nft
history
Project history and usage
nftables is the Netfilter project's replacement for the older iptables, ip6tables, arptables, and ebtables command families. It combines a new in-kernel packet classification framework with the `nft` userspace command and libnftables library, while reusing Netfilter pieces such as hooks, connection tracking, NAT, queueing, and logging.
Project history
The nftables design was publicly presented at Netfilter Workshop 2008 and released publicly in March 2009 by Patrick McHardy. It was developed to reduce duplicated packet-filtering code and make extension easier than the separate xtables-era tools.
nftables was selected for Linux 3.13 in 2013 and became available upstream with the Linux 3.13 kernel line in January 2014. The official project page describes the replacement target, the new VM-based ruleset model, and the separate userspace command-line tool.
Adoption history
The migration was intentionally gradual because firewall rules are operational infrastructure. The project provides an iptables/ip6tables compatibility layer over the nftables infrastructure, and distributions have used that bridge to move old command syntaxes onto the newer kernel backend.
By the Debian 10 and RHEL 8 era, nftables had moved from future replacement to default low-level packet-filtering framework in major Linux distributions. Red Hat documents nftables as the successor to iptables, ip6tables, arptables, ebtables, and ipset, and recommends it when administrators need direct control beyond high-level firewalld scenarios.
How it is used
Admins use `nft` to create tables, chains, sets, maps, NAT rules, and packet filters in a single syntax across address families. The package is most useful when you need explicit rulesets, performance-friendly sets/maps, atomic ruleset replacement, or a firewall that is easier to reason about than layered iptables invocations.
Package nerds care about which backend their distro's `iptables` command actually targets. On newer systems, `iptables-nft` compatibility may be present even when scripts still look old, while serious new rulesets are usually written as `/etc/nftables.conf` and loaded by the nftables service or by distribution firewall tooling.
Why package nerds care
nftables is one of the big Linux plumbing migrations: not a flashy app, but a shift in how packet filtering, NAT, and firewall state are represented. Its packaging matters because kernel version, libmnl, libnftnl, the `nft` tool, and distribution compatibility alternatives all have to line up.
Timeline
- 2008: nftables was presented at Netfilter Workshop in Paris.
- 2009-03: Patrick McHardy announced the first public nftables release.
- 2013-10: nftables was selected for Linux 3.13.
- 2014-01: Linux 3.13 made nftables available upstream.
- 2019: Debian 10 and RHEL 8 generation distributions made nftables a default or primary low-level firewall backend.
Related projects
- Netfilter
- iptables
- ip6tables
- arptables
- ebtables
- firewalld
- libmnl
- libnftnl
Sources
- https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/9/html/configuring_firewalls_and_packet_filters/getting-started-with-nftables_firewall-packet-filters
- https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nftables
- https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables/
- https://people.netfilter.org/pablo/netdev0.1/slides/nftables-netdev-2015.pdf
- https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/List_of_updates_since_Linux_kernel_3.13
- https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/Moving_from_iptables_to_nftables
- https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/What_is_nftables%3F
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 2 platform targets.
- Installs with 7 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 2 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
nft | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.1.6
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:nftables |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.1.6 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nftables |
| Homepage | https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables/ |
| Repository | https://git.netfilter.org/nftables |
| Upstream docs | https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/Main_Page |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://www.netfilter.org/pub/nftables/nftables-1.1.6.tar.xz |
| Dependencies | gmp, jansson, libedit, libmnl, libnftnl, ncurses, readline |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf, python@3.14 |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | nftables |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Requirements |
|
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
libnftables-dev 1.1.3-1
Development files for libnftables
sudo apt install libnftables-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nftables
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Debian apt95%
libnftables1 1.1.3-1
Netfilter nftables high level userspace API library
sudo apt install libnftables1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nftables
- 6 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Debian apt95%
nftables 1.1.3-1
Program to control packet filtering rules by Netfilter project
sudo apt install nftables- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Debian apt95%
python3-nftables 1.1.3-1
nftables/libnftables python3 module
sudo apt install python3-nftables- Section: python
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nftables
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Nix95%
nftables
nix profile install nixpkgs#nftables- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Ubuntu apt95%
libnftables-dev 1.0.9-1build1
Development files for libnftables
sudo apt install libnftables-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nftables
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Ubuntu apt95%
libnftables1 1.0.9-1build1
Netfilter nftables high level userspace API library
sudo apt install libnftables1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nftables
- 6 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Ubuntu apt95%
nftables 1.0.9-1build1
Program to control packet filtering rules by Netfilter project
sudo apt install nftables- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
Ubuntu apt95%
python3-nftables 1.0.9-1build1
nftables/libnftables python3 module
sudo apt install python3-nftables- Section: universe/python
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: nftables
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables 1.1.6-r1
Netfilter tables userspace tools
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables-dev 1.1.6-r1
Netfilter tables userspace tools (development files)
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables-dev- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables-doc 1.1.6-r1
Netfilter tables userspace tools (documentation)
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables-openrc 1.1.6-r1
Netfilter tables userspace tools (OpenRC init scripts)
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables-openrc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables-rulesets 1.1.6-r1
Meta package for pulling in all nftables rulesets
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables-rulesets- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables-static 1.1.6-r1
Netfilter tables userspace tools (static library)
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables-static- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
apk95%
nftables-systemd 1.1.6-r1
Netfilter tables userspace tools (systemd files)
https://netfilter.org/projects/nftables
sudo apk add nftables-systemd- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: nftables
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Nftables
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment