# Understanding the CMake \`COMPONENT\` keyword in the \`install\` command

**URL:** https://discourse.cmake.org/t/understanding-the-cmake-component-keyword-in-the-install-command/971
**Category:** Code
**Created:** [April 10, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/understanding-the-cmake-component-keyword-in-the-install-command/971 "2020-04-10T14:38:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![dbahadir](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/dbahadir/32/197_2.png) [@dbahadir](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/dbahadir)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/understanding-the-cmake-component-keyword-in-the-install-command/971/3 "2020-04-13T20:42:57Z")

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I also got confused by the `COMPONENTS` and `COMPONENT` keywords and their relationship.

Forget the stuff I mentioned about `find_package`. As Craig wrote correctly the `COMPONENT` keyword in the `install` command only effects installing the specific components / targets but has no implicit effect on `find_package` or how it uses components.

The `COMPONENTS` keyword of `find_package` is just some kind of hint for the underlying export file and it is up to that file to decide what to do if a component is given to the `find_package` command for the specific library.

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_[View the full topic](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/understanding-the-cmake-component-keyword-in-the-install-command/971)._