Clear-Content
Deletes the contents of an item, but does not delete the item.
Syntax
Clear-Content
[-Path] <String[]>
[-Filter <String>]
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Force]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[-Stream <String>]
[<CommonParameters>]
Clear-Content
-LiteralPath <String[]>
[-Filter <String>]
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Force]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[-Stream <String>]
[<CommonParameters>]
Clear-Content
[-Path] <String[]>
[-Filter <String>]
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Force]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[<CommonParameters>]
Clear-Content
-LiteralPath <String[]>
[-Filter <String>]
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Force]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[<CommonParameters>]
Description
The Clear-Content
cmdlet deletes the contents of an item, such as deleting the text from a file,
but it does not delete the item. As a result, the item exists, but it is empty. Clear-Content
is
similar to Clear-Item
, but it works on items with contents, instead of items with values.
Examples
Example 1: Delete all content from a directory
Clear-Content "..\SmpUsers\*\init.txt"
This command deletes all of the content from the init.txt
files in all subdirectories of the
SmpUsers
directory. The files are not deleted, but they are empty.
Example 2: Delete content of all files with a wildcard
Clear-Content -Path "*" -Filter "*.log" -Force
This command deletes the contents of all files in the current directory with the .log
file name
extension, including files with the read-only attribute. The asterisk (*
) in the path represents
all items in the current directory. The Force parameter makes the command effective on read-only
files. Using a filter to restrict the command to files with the .log
file name extension instead
of specifying *.log
in the path makes the operation faster.
Example 3: Clear all data from a stream
This example shows how the Clear-Content
cmdlet clears the content from an alternate data stream
while leaving the stream intact.
The first command uses the Get-Content
cmdlet to get the content of the Zone.Identifier
stream
in the Copy-Script.ps1
file, which was downloaded from the internet.
The second command uses the Clear-Content
cmdlet to clear the content.
The third command repeats the first command. It verifies that the content is cleared, but the stream remains. If the stream were deleted, the command would generate an error.
You can use a method like this one to clear the content of an alternate data stream. However, it is
not the recommended way to eliminate security checks that block files that are downloaded from the
Internet. If you verify that a downloaded file is safe, use the Unblock-File
cmdlet.
Get-Content C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier
[ZoneTransfer]
ZoneId=3
Clear-Content C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier
Get-Content C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier
Parameters
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | cf |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Credential
Note
This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another
user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command
.
Type: | PSCredential |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | Current user |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Exclude
Specifies, as a string array, strings that this cmdlet omits from the path to the content. The value
of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as
*.txt
. Wildcards are permitted.
Type: | String[] |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-Filter
Specifies a filter in the provider's format or language. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. The syntax of the filter, including the use of wildcards, depends on the provider. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when retrieving the objects, rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.
Type: | String |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-Force
Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Include
Specifies, as a string array, content that this cmdlet clears. The value of this parameter qualifies
the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt
. Wildcards are permitted.
Type: | String[] |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-LiteralPath
Specifies the paths to the items from which content is deleted. Unlike the Path parameter, the
value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards.
If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks ('
). Single quotation
marks tell having PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.
Type: | String[] |
Aliases: | PSPath, LP |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Path
Specifies the paths to the items from which content is deleted. Wildcards are permitted. The paths must be paths to items, not to containers. For example, you must specify a path to one or more files, not a path to a directory. Wildcards are permitted. This parameter is required, but the parameter name (Path) is optional.
Type: | String[] |
Position: | 0 |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-Stream
This is a dynamic parameter made available by the FileSystem provider. This parameter is only available on Windows.
Specifies an alternative data stream for content. If the stream does not exist, this cmdlet creates it. Wildcard characters are not supported.
You can use the Clear-Content
cmdlet to change the content of any alternate data stream, such as
Zone.Identifier
. However, we do not recommend this as a way to eliminate security checks that
block files that are downloaded from the internet. If you verify that a downloaded file is safe,
use the Unblock-File
cmdlet.
This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0. As of PowerShell 7.2, Clear-Content
can clear the
content of alternative data streams from directories as well as files.
For more information, see about_FileSystem_Provider.
Type: | String |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | wi |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
Inputs
None
You can't pipe objects to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
This cmdlet returns no output.
Notes
PowerShell includes the following aliases for Clear-Content
:
- All platforms:
clc
You can use Clear-Content
with the PowerShell FileSystem provider and with other providers that
manipulate content. To clear items that are not considered to be content, such as items managed by
the PowerShell Certificate or Registry providers, use Clear-Item
.
The Clear-Content
cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider.
To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PsProvider
.
For more information, see about_Providers.
Related Links
PowerShell