Here is how to check what is inside rpm without install, or before you install:
General info on rpm (author, description)
rpm -qip your.rpm
Install / uninstall scripts:
rpm --scripts -qp your.rpm
List of rpm files and their attributes:
rpm -qlvp your.rpm
Check contents of files to be installed via the rpm package:
rpm2cpio your.rpm | more
Extract files from an rpm without install:
rpm2cpio your.rpm > your.cpio
cpio -idmv < your.cpio
Here is what you can do on already installed rpms (note, you most likely won't see target architecture and ".rpm" extensions on installed rpms):
Check if "your_rpm" is installed:
rpm -qa | grep your_rpm
General info on rpm (author, description)
rpm -qi your_rpm
Install / uninstall scripts of already installed rpm:
rpm --scripts -q your_rpm
List of installed rpm files and their attributes:
rpm -qlv your_rpm