about_Hidden
Short description
Describes the hidden
keyword, which hides class members from default
Get-Member
results.
Long description
When you use the hidden
keyword in a script, you hide the members of a class
by default. Hidden members do not display in the default results of the
Get-Member
cmdlet, IntelliSense, or tab completion results. To display members
that you have hidden with the hidden
keyword, add the Force parameter to a
Get-Member
command.
The hidden
keyword can hide:
- methods (including constructors)
- events
- alias properties
- other member types (including static members)
Hidden members are not displayed in tab completion or IntelliSense unless the completion occurs in the class that defines the hidden member.
The new attribute, System.Management.Automation.HiddenAttribute, enables C# code to have the same semantics within PowerShell.
The hidden
keyword is useful for creating properties and methods within a
class that you do not necessarily want users of the class to see or readily be
able to edit.
The hidden
keyword has no effect on how you can view or make changes to
members of a class. Like all language keywords in PowerShell, hidden
is not
case-sensitive, and hidden members are still public.
The hidden
keyword, along with custom classes, was introduced in Windows
PowerShell 5.0.
EXAMPLE
The following example shows how to use the hidden
keyword in a class
definition. The Car class method, Drive, has a property, rides, that
does not need to be viewed or changed as it merely tallies the number of times
that Drive is called on the Car class. That metric that is not important
to users of the class (consider, for example, that when you are buying a car,
you do not ask the seller on how many drives the car has been taken).
Because there is little need for users of the class to change this property, we
can hide the property from Get-Member
and automatic completion results by
using the hidden
keyword.
Add the hidden
keyword by entering it on the same statement line as the
property and its data type. Although the keyword can be in any order on this
line, starting the statement with the hidden
keyword makes it easier for you
later to identify all members that you have hidden.
class Car
{
# Properties
[String] $Color
[String] $ModelYear
[int] $Distance
# Method
[int] Drive ([int]$miles)
{
$this.Distance += $miles
$this.rides++
return $this.Distance
}
# Hidden property of the Drive method
hidden [int] $rides = 0
}
Now, create a new instance of the Car class, and save it in a variable,
$TestCar
.
$TestCar = [Car]::new()
After you create the new instance, pipe the contents of the $TestCar
variable
to Get-Member
. Observe that the rides property is not among the members
listed in the Get-Member
command results.
PS C:\Windows\system32> $TestCar | Get-Member
TypeName: Car
Name MemberType Definition
---- ---------- ----------
Drive Method int Drive(int miles)
Equals Method bool Equals(System.Object obj)
GetHashCode Method int GetHashCode()
GetType Method type GetType()
ToString Method string ToString()
Color Property string Color {get;set;}
Distance Property int Distance {get;set;}
ModelYear Property string ModelYear {get;set;}
Now, try running Get-Member
again, but this time, add the -Force
parameter.
Note that the results contain the hidden rides property, among other members
that are hidden by default.
PS C:\Windows\system32> $TestCar | Get-Member -Force
TypeName: Car
Name MemberType Definition
---- ---------- ----------
pstypenames CodeProperty System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection`1
psadapted MemberSet psadapted {Color, ModelYear, Distance,
psbase MemberSet psbase {Color, ModelYear, Distance,...
psextended MemberSet psextended {}
psobject MemberSet psobject {BaseObject, Members,...
Drive Method int Drive(int miles)
Equals Method bool Equals(System.Object obj)
GetHashCode Method int GetHashCode()
GetType Method type GetType()
get_Color Method string get_Color()
get_Distance Method int get_Distance()
get_ModelYear Method string get_ModelYear()
get_rides Method int get_rides()
set_Color Method void set_Color(string )
set_Distance Method void set_Distance(int )
set_ModelYear Method void set_ModelYear(string )
set_rides Method void set_rides(int )
ToString Method string ToString()
Color Property string Color {get;set;}
Distance Property int Distance {get;set;}
ModelYear Property string ModelYear {get;set;}
rides Property int rides {get;set;}
See also
PowerShell