Windows PowerShell Utility Cmdlets

Article
09/29/2014

Applies To: Windows PowerShell 5.0

This section contains the help topics for the cmdlets that are installed with Windows PowerShell Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility module. The Utility module contains cmdlets that manage the basic features of Windows PowerShell.

Utility Cmdlets

Name	Description
Add-Member	Adds a user-defined custom member to an instance of a Windows PowerShell object.
Add-Type	Adds a .NET type (a class) to a Windows PowerShell session.
Clear-Variable	Deletes the value of a variable.
Compare-Object	Compares two sets of objects.
ConvertFrom-Csv	Converts object properties in CSV format into CSV versions of the original objects.
ConvertFrom-Json	Converts a JSON-formatted string to a custom object.
ConvertFrom-StringData	Converts a string containing one or more "name=value" pairs to a hash table.
ConvertTo-Csv	Converts .NET objects into a series of comma-separated, variable-length (CSV) strings.
ConvertTo-Html	Converts .NET objects into HTML that can be displayed in a Web browser.
ConvertTo-Json	Converts an object to a JSON-formatted string.
ConvertTo-Xml	Creates an XML-based representation of an object.
Disable-PSBreakpoint	Disables the breakpoints in the current console.
Enable-PSBreakpoint	Enables the breakpoints in the current console.
Export-Alias	Exports information about currently-defined aliases to a file.
Export-Clixml	Creates an XML-based representation of an object or objects and stores it in a file.
Export-Csv	Converts .NET objects into a series of comma-separated, variable-length (CSV) strings and saves the strings in a CSV file.
Export-FormatData	Saves formatting data from the current session in a formatting file.
Export-PSSession	Saves commands from another session in a module file.
Format-Custom	Uses a customized view to format the output.
Format-List	Formats the output as a list of properties in which each property appears on a new line.
Format-Table	Formats the output as a table.
Format-Wide	Formats objects as a wide table that displays only one property of each object.
Get-Alias	Gets the aliases for the current session.
Get-Culture	Gets the culture currently set in the operating system.
Get-Date	Gets the current date and time.
Get-Event	Gets the events in the event queue.
Get-EventSubscriber	Gets the event subscribers in the current session.
Get-FileHash	Gets the hash value for a file by using a specified hash algorithm.
Get-FormatData	Gets the formatting data in the current session.
Get-Host	Gets an object that represents the current host program.
Get-Member	Gets the properties and methods of objects.
Get-PSBreakpoint	Gets the breakpoints set in the current console.
Get-PSCallStack	Displays the current call stack.
Get-Random	Gets a random number or selects objects randomly from a collection.
Get-TraceSource	Gets the Windows PowerShell components that are instrumented for tracing.
Get-TypeData	Gets the extended type data in the current session.
Get-UICulture	Gets the current user interface culture set in the operating system.
Get-Unique	Returns the unique items from a sorted list.
Get-Variable	Gets the variables in the current console.
Group-Object	Groups objects that contain the same value for specified properties.
Import-Alias	Imports an alias list from a file.
Import-Clixml	Imports a CLIXML file and creates corresponding objects within Windows PowerShell.
Import-Csv	Converts object properties in a CSV file into CSV versions of the original objects.
Import-LocalizedData	Imports language-specific data into scripts and functions based on the current culture setting of the operating system.
Import-PSSession	Imports cmdlets, aliases, functions, and other command types from another session on a local or remote computer into the current session.
Invoke-Expression	Runs commands or expressions on the local computer.
Invoke-RestMethod	Sends an HTTP or HTTPS request to a REST-compliant web service.
Invoke-WebRequest	Sends an HTTP or HTTPS request to a web service.
Measure-Command	Measures the time it takes to run script blocks and cmdlets.
Measure-Object	Calculates the numeric properties of objects, and the characters, words, and lines in string objects, such as the text in files.
New-Alias	Creates a new alias.
New-Event	Creates a new event.
New-Object	Creates an instance of a .Net or COM object.
New-TimeSpan	Creates an object that represents a time interval.
New-Variable	Creates a new variable.
Out-File	Sends output to a file.
Out-GridView	Sends output to an interactive table in a separate window.
Out-Printer	Sends output to a printer.
Out-String	Sends objects to the host as a series of strings.
Read-Host	Reads a line of input from the console.
Register-EngineEvent	Subscribes to events that are generated by the Windows PowerShell engine and by the New-Event cmdlet.
Register-ObjectEvent	Subscribes to the events that are generated by a .NET object.
Remove-Event	Deletes events from the event queue.
Remove-PSBreakpoint	Deletes breakpoints from the current console.
Remove-TypeData	Deletes extended types from the current session.
Remove-Variable	Deletes a variable and its value.
Select-Object	Selects specified properties of an object or set of objects. It can also select unique objects from an array of objects or it can select a specified number of objects from the beginning or end of an array of objects.
Select-String	Finds text in strings and files.
Select-Xml	Finds text in an XML document.
Send-MailMessage	Sends an e-mail message.
Set-Alias	Creates or changes an alias (alternate name) for a cmdlet or command element.
Set-Date	Changes the system time on the computer to a time that you specify.
Set-PSBreakpoint	Sets a breakpoint on a line, command, or variable.
Set-TraceSource	Configures, starts, and stops a trace of Windows PowerShell components.
Set-Variable	Sets the value of a variable. Creates the variable if one with the requested name does not exist.
Show-Command	Creates Windows PowerShell commands in a graphical command window.
Sort-Object	Sorts objects by property values.
Start-Sleep	Suspend shell, script, or runspace activity for the specified period of time.
Tee-Object	Saves command output in a file or variable and displays it in the console.
Trace-Command	Configures and starts a trace of the specified expression or command.
Unblock-File	Unblocks files that were downloaded from the Internet.
Unregister-Event	Cancels an event subscription.
Update-FormatData	Updates and appends format data files.
Update-List	Adds and removes items from a property value that contains a collection of objects.
Update-TypeData	Updates the extended type data in the session.
Wait-Event	Waits until a particular event is raised before continuing to run.
Write-Debug	Writes a debugging message to the console.
Write-Error	Writes an object to the error pipeline.
Write-Host	Writes customized output to a host.
Write-Output	Sends the objects to the next command in the pipeline. If the command is the last in the pipeline, the objects are displayed on the console.
Write-Progress	Displays a progress bar within a Windows PowerShell command window.
Write-Verbose	Writes text to the verbose message stream in Windows PowerShell.
Write-Warning	Writes a warning message.

Windows PowerShell Utility Cmdlets

Utility Cmdlets

Additional resources