What is PowerShell and its Important Features?

What is PowerShell and its Key Features?

Microsoft PowerShell is a platform for task automation and configuration management that consists of a scripting language and command-line shell.

It was initially created to automate and manage processes for Windows environments, but it has now developed into a cross-platform utility that works with Linux, macOS, and Windows as well.

Brief: A command-line shell, scripting language, and configuration management system combine to make PowerShell a cross-platform job automation tool. Currently Windows, Linux, and macOS all support PowerShell.

Command-line Shell

With the greatest features from other well-known shells, PowerShell is a contemporary command shell. PowerShell is different from most other shells in that it can accept and return .NET objects in addition to text.

Here are some features of the shell:

• Reliable history via command-line
• Task completion on tabs and command predictions (about_PSReadLine)
• Allows aliases for commands and parameters
• Chaining Command for Pipeline
• Similar to Unix man pages, an in-console help system

Scripting Language

PowerShell is a popular scripting language for automating system administration. In many CI/CD systems; it is also used for building, testing, and deploying solutions.

The.NET Common Language Runtime serves as the foundation for PowerShell (CLR). Each and every input and output is a .NET object. Information can be extracted from the output without the requirement to parse the text.

The following functionalities are included in the PowerShell scripting language:

• Extensible via modules, scripts, functions, and classes
• Flexible formatting method for effortless production
• Flexible typing mechanism to generate dynamic types
• Support for popular data formats like CSV, JSON, and XML is built in.

Automation Platform

The ecosystem of PowerShell modules has been made possible by PowerShell’s extensible nature, allowing you to deploy and administer practically any type of technology. For instance:

Microsoft

• Windows
• Azure
• SQL
• Exchange

[Read: What is Microsoft Azure? Exploring the Wonders]

Third-party

• AWS
• Google Cloud
• VMWare

Configuration Management

With PowerShell’s DSC (Desired State Configuration) management framework, you can use configuration as code to manage your organization’s infrastructure.

With Desired State Configuration, you can:

• Create custom scripts and declarative configurations for repeatable deployments.
• Enforce configuration parameters and provide a configuration drift report.
• Use push or pull models to deploy configuration.

Remote Management

By enabling remote management, PowerShell enables administrators to run commands on systems located far away.

This feature is very helpful in business settings where administrators have to oversee a lot of workstations or servers.

Because of PowerShell’s flexibility and strong automation features, system administrators and IT specialists utilize it extensively across the globe.

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