In this section, we will cover the fundamental commands and syntax used in PowerShell. Understanding these basics is crucial for writing effective scripts and automating tasks.

Cmdlets (pronounced "command-lets") are the basic building blocks of PowerShell. They are specialized .NET classes that perform specific operations.

• Naming Convention: Cmdlets follow a Verb-Noun naming convention.
  • Example: Get-Process, Set-Item, Remove-Item

A typical PowerShell command consists of:

• Cmdlet: The action to be performed.
• Parameters: Options that modify the cmdlet's behavior.
• Arguments: Values provided to the parameters.

Aliases are shortcuts or alternative names for cmdlets. They help in reducing typing effort but should be used cautiously to maintain script readability.

• Example: ls is an alias for Get-ChildItem.

Comments are used to annotate code and are ignored during execution.

• Single-line comment: # This is a comment
• Multi-line comment:

  <#
  This is a
  multi-line comment
  #>
  

Lists all available cmdlets, functions, workflows, aliases installed on your system.

Provides detailed information about cmdlets, including syntax, parameters, and examples.

Retrieves information about the processes running on your system.

Changes the current directory.

Lists the items in a directory (similar to ls in Unix/Linux).

Copies an item from one location to another.

Deletes an item.

1. List all cmdlets available on your system.
2. Get help for the Get-ChildItem cmdlet.
3. List all files in the C:\Windows directory.
4. Copy a file from one directory to another.
5. Remove a file from a directory.

1. List all cmdlets:

   Get-Command
   

2. Get help for Get-ChildItem:

   Get-Help Get-ChildItem
   

3. List all files in C:\Windows:

   Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Windows"
   

4. Copy a file:

   Copy-Item -Path "C:\source\file.txt" -Destination "C:\destination\file.txt"
   

5. Remove a file:

   Remove-Item -Path "C:\destination\file.txt"
   

• Using Aliases: While aliases can save time, they can make scripts harder to read. Prefer using full cmdlet names in scripts.
• Case Sensitivity: PowerShell is not case-sensitive, but maintaining consistent casing improves readability.
• Parameter Names: Always use parameter names for clarity, especially when a cmdlet has multiple parameters.

In this section, we covered the basic commands and syntax in PowerShell. You learned about cmdlets, their structure, and some essential cmdlets to get started. Practice these commands to become comfortable with the PowerShell environment. In the next module, we will dive into basic scripting, where you'll learn about variables, data types, and more.