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Basics
5 MIN READ
Apr 19, 2026

PowerShell Commands Every Beginner Should Know

Start here: Get-Help, Get-Command, navigation cmdlets, object filtering, and exporting results for everyday Windows automation.

PowerShell is verb-noun: discover with Get-Command *dns*, learn syntax with Get-Help cmdlet -Online, and explore members with Get-Member. Navigate like a shell with Set-Location, Get-ChildItem, and Join-Path. Filter objects using Where-Object and project columns with Select-Object. Send results to files using Out-File, Export-Csv, or ConvertTo-Json for APIs.

CmdletRoleBeginner tip
Get-ChildItemList files and foldersAliases dir and ls exist—learn the real name
Sort-ObjectOrder pipeline outputUse -Descending for top-N views
Measure-ObjectCount, sum, averageHandy after large Get-ChildItem scans

Related

Get-Process, Get-Service, PowerShell vs CMD, What PowerShell is for

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What is the first cmdlet I should run in a new session?

Get-Help about_Execution_Policies and Get-Command to see what is available on that machine.

Q.How do I find cmdlets related to a task?

Use Get-Command *keyword* or search modules with Get-Module -ListAvailable.

Q.Why does piping feel different from cmd.exe?

PowerShell passes objects with properties, not plain text lines—use Select-Object and Format-Table to shape output.

Q.What is the difference between FilterScript and Where-Object?

Where-Object is the cmdlet; FilterScript is the script block parameter that tests each object.

Q.How can I save command output to a file?

Use Set-Content or Out-File for text, Export-Csv for spreadsheets, and Export-Clixml for structured round-tripping.

Q.What does $ErrorActionPreference control?

It changes how non-terminating errors behave—useful in scripts paired with try/catch for terminating errors.

Q.How do I run a script file?

Call it with a path: .\script.ps1—execution policy may require RemoteSigned or admin consent.

Q.When should I use ForEach-Object versus foreach?

ForEach-Object streams pipeline items; foreach is often clearer for in-memory arrays inside scripts.
TOPICS & TAGS
PowerShell basicsGet-HelpGet-CommandWhere-ObjectExport-Csv