What is PowerShell?

PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

What are the PowerShell Commands?

In PowerShell, commands are referred to as "cmdlets" and are executed by typing them into the console and pressing Enter. Commands are written in verb-noun form, and named parameters start with a dash.

Basic knowledge

Cmdlet	Commands built into shell written in .NET
Functions	Commands written in PowerShell language
Parameter	Argument to a Cmdlet/Function/Script
Alias	Shortcut for a Cmdlet or Function
Scripts	Text files with .ps1 extension
Applications	Existing windows programs
Pipelines |	Pass objects Get-process word | Stop-Process
Ctrl+c	Interrupt current command
Left/right	Navigate editing cursor
Ctrl+left/right	Navigate a word at a time
Home / End	Move to start / end of line
Up/down	Move up and down through history
Insert	Toggles between insert/overwrite mode
F7	Command history in a window
Tab / Shift-Tab	Command line completion

PowerShell Cmdlets List

Help

Commands	Functions
Get-Command	Get all commands
Get-Command -Module RGHS	Get all commands in RGHS module
Get-Command Get-p*	Get all commands starting with get-p
Get-help get-process	Get help for command
Get-Process | Get-Member	Get members of the object
Get-Process| format-list -properties *	Get-Process as list with all properties

Cmdlets

Get-EventLog	Get-WinEvent	Get-Date
Start-Sleep	Compare-Object	Start-Job
Get-Credential	Test-Connection	New-PSSession
Test-Path	Split-Path	Get-ADUser
Get-EventLog	Get-WinEvent	Get-Date
Get-ADComputer	Get-History	New-ISESnippet
Get-WMIObject	Where-Object	Get-CimInstance
Set-Content	Get-Content	Add-Content
Set-Location	Where-Object	Get-CimInstance
Out-File	Out-String	Copy-Item
Remove-Item	Move-Item	New-Item

Assignment, Logical, Comparison Operators

Commands	Functions
=,+=,-=,++,--	Assign values to variable
-and,-or,-not,!	Connect expressions / statements
-eq, -ne	Equal, not equal
-gt, -ge	Greater than, greater than or equal
-lt, -le	Less than, less than or equal
-replace	“Hi” -replace “H”, “P”
-match,-notmatch	Regular expression match
-like,-notlike	Wildcard matching
-contains,-notcontains	Check if value in array
-in, -notin	Reverse of contains, notcontains

Parameters

Commands	Functions
-Confirm	Prompt whether to take action
-WhatIf	Displays what command would do

Variables

Commands	Functions
$var = "string"	Assign variable
$a,$b = 0 or $a,$b = 'a','b'	Assign multiple variables
$a,$b = $b,$a	Flip variables
$var=[int]5	Strongly typed variable

Arrays, Objects

Commands	Functions
$arr = "a", "b"	Array of strings
$arr = @()	Empty array
$arr[5]	Returns the sixth array element, where the index of the first item is 0
$arr[-3..-1]	Last three array elements
$arr[1,4+6..9]	Elements at index 1,4, 6-9
$arr[1] += 200	Add to array item value
$z = $arA + $arB	Two arrays into single array
(Get-Date).Date	Date property of object

Importing, Exporting, Converting

Export-CliXML	Import-CliXML	ConvertTo-XML
Export-CSV	Import-CSV	ConvertTo-CSV
ConvertFrom-CSV	ConvertTo-HTML

Comments, Escape Characters

Commands	Functions
#Comment	Comment
<#comment#>	Multiline Comment
`t	Tab
`n	New line
`	Line continue

Aliases for common commands

Aliases	Commands
Gcm	Get-Command
Foreach,%	Foreach-Object
Sort	Sort-Object
Where,?	Where-Object
Diff,compare	Compare-Object
Dir, ls, gci	Get-ChildItem
Gi	Get-Item
Copy,cp,cpi	Copy-Item
Move,mv,mi	Move-Item
Del,rm	Remove-Item
Rni,ren	Rename-Item
Ft	Format-Table
Fl	Format-List
Gcim	Get-CimInstance
Cat,gc,type	Get-Content
Sc	Set-Content
h,history,ghy	Get-History
Ihy,r	Invoke-History
Gp	Get-ItemProperty
Sp	Set-ItemProperty
Pwd,gl	Get-Location
Gm	Get-Member
Sls	Select-String
Cd,chdir,sl	Set-Location
Cls,clear	Clear-Host

Conclusion

PowerShell provides a rich set of built-in tools for scripting, including a scripting language and integrated debugger, making it easy for users to write and test scripts. PowerShell also has a robust community and extensive resources, including online documentation, forums, and blogs, which provide support and information for users of all skill levels.

Overall, PowerShell is a powerful tool that can significantly increase productivity and simplify complex IT tasks, making it an essential tool for system administrators and power users.