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Short description
Describes the keywords in the PowerShell scripting language.
Long description
PowerShell has the following language keywords. For more information, see the about topic for the keyword and the information that follows the table.
The following keywords are used by PowerShell workflows:
inlinescriptparallelsequenceworkflow
PowerShell workflows are only supported in PowerShell 5.1. For more information about workflows, see Running PowerShell Commands in a Workflow.
begin
Specifies one part of the body of a function, along with the dynamicparam,
process, and end keywords. The begin statement list runs one time before
any objects are received from the pipeline.
Syntax:
function <name> {
dynamicparam {<statement list>}
begin {<statement list>}
process {<statement list>}
end {<statement list>}
}
break
Causes a script to exit a loop.
Syntax:
while (<condition>) {
<statements>
...
break
...
<statements>
}
catch
Specifies a statement list to run if an error occurs in the accompanying try
statement list. An error type requires brackets. The second pair of brackets
indicates that the error type is optional.
Syntax:
try {<statement list>}
catch [[<error type>]] {<statement list>}
class
Specifies a new class in PowerShell.
Syntax:
class <class-name> {
[[hidden] [static] <property-definition> ...]
[<class-name>([argument-list>]) {<constructor-statement-list>} ...]
[[hidden] [static] <method-definition> ...]
}
clean
The clean keyword was added in PowerShell 7.3. The keyword defines a block of
code that's guaranteed to run after the begin, process and end blocks of
a function. Unlike the end block, the clean block is always executed, even
when there is a terminating error in one of the other blocks.
continue
Causes a script to stop running a loop and to go back to the condition. If the condition is met, the script begins the loop again.
Syntax:
while (<condition>) {
<statements>
...
continue
...
<statements>
}
data
In a script, defines a section that isolates data from the script logic. Can
also include if statements and some limited commands.
Syntax:
data <variable> [-SupportedCommand <cmdlet-name>] {<permitted content>}
do
Used with the while or until keyword as a looping construct. PowerShell
runs the statement list at least one time, unlike a loop that uses while.
Syntax for while:
do {<statement list>} while (<condition>)
Syntax for until:
do {<statement list>} until (<condition>)
dynamicparam
Specifies one part of the body of a function, along with the begin,
process, and end keywords. Dynamic parameters are added at runtime.
Syntax:
function <name> {
dynamicparam {<statement list>}
begin {<statement list>}
process {<statement list>}
end {<statement list>}
}
else
Used with the if keyword to specify the default statement list.
Syntax:
if (<condition>) {<statement list>}
else {<statement list>}
elseif
Used with the if and else keywords to specify additional conditionals. The
else keyword is optional.
Syntax:
if (<condition>) {<statement list>}
elseif (<condition>) {<statement list>}
else {<statement list>}
end
Specifies one part of the body of a function, along with the dynamicparam,
begin, and end keywords. The end statement list runs one time after all
the objects have been received from the pipeline.
Syntax:
function <name> {
dynamicparam {<statement list>}
begin {<statement list>}
process {<statement list>}
end {<statement list>}
}
enum
enum is used to declare an enumeration; a distinct type that consists of a
set of named labels called the enumerator list.
Syntax:
enum <enum-name> {
<label> [= <int-value>]
...
}
exit
Causes PowerShell to exit a script or a PowerShell instance.
Syntax:
exit
exit <exitcode>
When you use pwsh with the File parameter, the .ps1 (script) file
itself should include instructions for handling any errors or exceptions that
occur while the script is running. You should only use the exit statement to
indicate the post-execution status of the script.
On Windows, any number between [int]::MinValue and [int]::MaxValue is
allowed.
On Unix, only positive numbers between [byte]::MinValue and
[byte]::MaxValue are allowed. A negative number in the range of -1 through
-255 is automatically translated into a positive number by adding 256. For
example, -2 is transformed to 254.
In PowerShell, the exit statement sets the value of the $LASTEXITCODE
variable. In the Windows Command Shell (cmd.exe), the exit statement sets the
value of the %ERRORLEVEL% environment variable.
Any argument that is non-numeric or outside the platform-specific range is
translated to the value of 0.
In the following example, the user sets the error level variable value to 4
by adding exit 4 to the script file test.ps1.
C:\scripts\test>type test.ps1
1
2
3
exit 4
C:\scripts\test>pwsh -File ./test.ps1
1
2
3
C:\scripts\test>echo %ERRORLEVEL%
4
When you run pwsh.exe -File <path to a script> and the script file terminates
with an exit command, the exit code is set to the numeric argument used with
the exit command. If the script has no exit statement, the exit code is
always 0 when the script completes without error or 1 when the script
terminates from an unhandled exception.
filter
Specifies a function in which the statement list runs one time for each input
object. It has the same effect as a function that contains only a process
block.
Syntax:
filter <name> {<statement list>}
finally
Defines a statement list that runs after statements that are associated with
try and catch. A finally statement list runs even if you press
CTRL+C to leave a script or if you use the exit keyword
in the script.
Syntax:
try {<statement list>}
catch [<error type>] {<statement list>}
finally {<statement list>}
for
Defines a loop with a condition.
Syntax:
for (<initialize>; <condition>; <iterate>) { <statement list> }
foreach
Defines a loop using each member of a collection.
Syntax:
foreach (<item> in <collection>) { <statement list> }
from
Reserved for future use.
function
Creates a named statement list of reusable code. You can name the scope a
function belongs to. You can also specify one or more named parameters by using
the param keyword. Within the function statement list, you can include
dynamicparam, begin, process, and end statement lists.
Syntax:
function [<scope:>]<name> {
param ([type]<$PName1> [, [type]<$PName2>])
dynamicparam {<statement list>}
begin {<statement list>}
process {<statement list>}
end {<statement list>}
}
You also have the option of defining one or more parameters outside the statement list after the function name.
Syntax:
function [<scope:>]<name> [([type]<$PName1>, [[type]<$PName2>])] {
dynamicparam {<statement list>}
begin {<statement list>}
process {<statement list>}
end {<statement list>}
}
if
Defines a conditional.
Syntax:
if (<condition>) {<statement list>}
hidden
Hides class members from the default results of the Get-Member cmdlet,
IntelliSense, and tab completion results.
Syntax:
hidden [data type] $member_name
in
Used in a foreach statement to create a loop that uses each member of a
collection.
Syntax:
foreach (<item> in <collection>){<statement list>}
param
Defines the parameters in a function.
Syntax:
function [<scope:>]<name> {
param ([type]<$PName1>[, [[type]<$PName2>]])
<statement list>
}
process
Specifies a part of the body of a function, along with the dynamicparam,
begin, and end keywords. When a process statement list receives input
from the pipeline, the process statement list runs one time for each element
from the pipeline. If the pipeline provides no objects, the process statement
list does not run. If the command is the first command in the pipeline, the
process statement list runs one time.
Syntax:
function <name> {
dynamicparam {<statement list>}
begin {<statement list>}
process {<statement list>}
end {<statement list>}
}
return
Causes PowerShell to leave the current scope, such as a script or function, and writes the optional expression to the output.
Syntax:
return [<expression>]
static
Specifies the property or method defined is common to all instances of the class in which it is defined.
See class for usage examples.
switch
To check multiple conditions, use a switch statement. The switch statement
is equivalent to a series of if statements, but it is simpler.
The switch statement lists each condition and an optional action. If a
condition obtains, the action is performed.
Syntax 1:
switch [-Regex|-Wildcard|-Exact][-CaseSensitive] ( <value> )
{
<string>|<number>|<variable>|{ <expression> } {<statement list>}
<string>|<number>|<variable>|{ <expression> } {<statement list>}
...
default {<statement list>}
}
Syntax 2:
switch [-Regex|-Wildcard|-Exact][-CaseSensitive] -File <filename>
{
<string>|<number>|<variable>|{ <expression> } {<statement list>}
<string>|<number>|<variable>|{ <expression> } {<statement list>}
...
default {<statement list>}
}
throw
Throws an object as an error.
Syntax:
throw [<object>]
trap
Defines a statement list to be run if an error is encountered. An error type requires brackets. The second pair of brackets indicates that the error type is optional.
Syntax:
trap [[<error type>]] {<statement list>}
try
Defines a statement list to be checked for errors while the statements run. If
an error occurs, PowerShell continues running in a catch or finally
statement. An error type requires brackets. The second pair of brackets
indicates that the error type is optional.
Syntax:
try {<statement list>}
catch [[<error type>]] {<statement list>}
finally {<statement list>}
until
Used in a do statement as a looping construct where the statement list is
executed at least one time.
Syntax:
do {<statement list>} until (<condition>)
using
Allows you to indicate which namespaces are used in the session. Type names, classes, and members require less typing to reference them. You can also include classes from modules.
Namespace syntax:
using namespace <.NET-namespace>
Module syntax:
using module <module-name>
Assembly syntax:
using assembly <.NET-assembly-path>
For more information, see about_Using.
while
The while statement is a looping construct where the condition is tested
before the statements are executed. If the condition is false, then the
statements do not execute.
Statement syntax:
while (<condition>) {
<statements>
}
When used in a do statement, while is part of a looping construct where
the statement list is executed at least one time.
do loop Syntax:
do {<statement list>} while (<condition>)
See also
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