diff --git a/plinth/errors.py b/plinth/errors.py
index c6dd4cf36..cfd6746d4 100644
--- a/plinth/errors.py
+++ b/plinth/errors.py
@@ -25,3 +25,11 @@ class DomainNotRegisteredError(PlinthError):
     FreedomBox doesn't have a registered domain
     """
     pass
+
+
+class MissingPackageError(PlinthError):
+    """Package is not available to be installed at this time."""
+
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        self.name = name
+        super().__init__(self.name)
diff --git a/plinth/package.py b/plinth/package.py
index c7f99d211..b4767524c 100644
--- a/plinth/package.py
+++ b/plinth/package.py
@@ -17,12 +17,78 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext as _
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy
 
 from plinth import actions, app
-from plinth.errors import ActionError
+from plinth.errors import ActionError, MissingPackageError
 from plinth.utils import format_lazy
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+class PackageExpression:
+
+    def possible(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Return the list of possible packages before resolving."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def actual(self) -> str:
+        """Return the resolved list of packages to install.
+
+        TODO: Also return version and suite to install from.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+
+class Package(PackageExpression):
+
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            name,
+            optional: bool = False,
+            version: Optional[str] = None,  # ">=1.0,<2.0"
+            distribution: Optional[str] = None,  # Debian, Ubuntu
+            suite: Optional[str] = None,  # stable, testing
+            codename: Optional[str] = None,  # bullseye-backports
+            architecture: Optional[str] = None):  # arm64
+        self.name = name
+        self.optional = optional
+        self.version = version
+        self.distribution = distribution
+        self.suite = suite
+        self.codename = codename
+        self.architecture = architecture
+
+    def __or__(self, other):
+        return PackageOr(self, other)
+
+    def possible(self) -> list[str]:
+        return [self.name]
+
+    def actual(self) -> str:
+        cache = apt.Cache()
+        if self.name in cache:
+            # TODO: Also return version and suite to install from
+            return self.name
+
+        raise MissingPackageError(self.name)
+
+
+class PackageOr(PackageExpression):
+    """Specify that one of the two packages will be installed."""
+
+    def __init__(self, package1: PackageExpression,
+                 package2: PackageExpression):
+        self.package1 = package1
+        self.package2 = package2
+
+    def possible(self) -> list[str]:
+        return self.package1.possible() + self.package2.possible()
+
+    def actual(self) -> str:
+        try:
+            return self.package1.actual()
+        except MissingPackageError:
+            return self.package2.actual()
+
+
 class Packages(app.FollowerComponent):
     """Component to manage the packages of an app.
 
diff --git a/plinth/tests/test_package.py b/plinth/tests/test_package.py
index c67d4c25f..4b35a8517 100644
--- a/plinth/tests/test_package.py
+++ b/plinth/tests/test_package.py
@@ -3,17 +3,53 @@
 Test module for package module.
 """
 
+import unittest
 from unittest.mock import Mock, call, patch
 
 import pytest
 
 from plinth.app import App
-from plinth.errors import ActionError
-from plinth.package import Packages, packages_installed, remove
+from plinth.errors import ActionError, MissingPackageError
+from plinth.package import Package, Packages, packages_installed, remove
 
 setup_helper = Mock()
 
 
+class TestPackageExpressions(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_package(self):
+        """Test resolving package names."""
+        package = Package('python3')
+        assert package.possible() == ['python3']
+        assert package.actual() == 'python3'
+
+        package = Package('unknown-package')
+        assert package.possible() == ['unknown-package']
+        self.assertRaises(MissingPackageError, package.actual)
+
+    def test_package_or_expression(self):
+        """Test resolving package OR expressions."""
+        expression = Package('python3') | Package('unknown-package')
+        assert expression.possible() == ['python3', 'unknown-package']
+        assert expression.actual() == 'python3'
+
+        expression = Package('unknown-package') | Package('python3')
+        assert expression.possible() == ['unknown-package', 'python3']
+        assert expression.actual() == 'python3'
+
+        # When both packages are available, prefer the first.
+        expression = Package('bash') | Package('dash')
+        assert expression.possible() == ['bash', 'dash']
+        assert expression.actual() == 'bash'
+
+        expression = Package('unknown-package') | Package(
+            'another-unknown-package')
+        assert expression.possible() == [
+            'unknown-package', 'another-unknown-package'
+        ]
+        self.assertRaises(MissingPackageError, expression.actual)
+
+
 def test_packages_init():
     """Test initialization of packages component."""
     component = Packages('test-component', ['foo', 'bar'])